FIESTA!!!!!

We needed to warm up a bit around here as we have been getting quite the dumping of snow, so we brought a little warm weather inside by having a fiesta.
The occasion was Sweet Pea and Little Sprouts 3rd birthday! Yes, hard to believe where the time has gone, long days but short years is a good way to describe it.
We invited friends and family to celebrate. We based it off a favorite book of theirs, "Fiesta". The party was complete with fajitas, a pinata filled with toys and candy.
We sang a rendition of happy birthday, blew out number "3" candles and dug into birthday cupcakes.

Scarecrow bought birthday balloons for all of the kids to take home, along with their gift bags filled with toys and candy.

Prior to destroying the pinata we read"Fiesta"

Then it was time to don the blindfold and take some swings at the donkey pinata. The kids tried their darnedest to break open the pinata with some big hits but in the end we had to break it open and pour out the contents! They all loved the candy and prizes just the same.

We are so blessed to have had these two wonderful gifts err twin tornadoes (as their favorite uncle calls them) in our lives for three years. We will see what the next year brings. We pray it will be filled with more joy, smiles, and times to grow together, and celebrate!

Confessions Of A Brownieaholic

I am still on a dairy free plan as baby Butterfly does not seem to tolerate milk, butter, or cheese quite yet. I have come across a DIVINE brownie recipe which I have made them three times in one week! Yes they are that good!! The key is chocolate, lots of it!



The recipe is rather easy:

1/2 cup canola oil

2 eggs

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup plus 2 TBSP cocoa powder

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 325 F

Line an 8 inch pan with parchment paper or spray with oil.

Beat together oil and eggs, then beat in sugar.

Add the vanilla and cocoa powder.

Stir in the flour and baking powder. The batter will be very thick.

Spread in prepared pan, bake for 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and cut into 16 pieces.

Enjoy a cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or milk with your delectable creation.

A Working Girls Dinner

So I did return to work yesterday. It turns out all of the fretting was for naught. Our sitter came and after a high five to the twins, Little Sprout came to me and blurted out "Go to work mom". I was a bit taken aback but at the same time very glad to know he was just fine with my departure. Let the party begin is what he was thinking! All went very well at work and on the home front.

Baby butterfly did not take much of her bottle but had not a word of complaint either. I have a great dinner in a pinch for anyone who could use it on a work night or any other night. Very simple, fast and SO delicious!

Ingredients:

Any vegetables you favor roasted - I used carrots, parsnips, potatoes and onionsolive oil

spices - I used all spice, tarragon, & garlic salt

One Rotisserie chicken - I opted for 3 lb chicken at Costco for $5, cooked and hot, can't beat it!!

Simply microwave the veggies until tender (10 minutes).

Place on a cookie sheet toss with spices and olive oil, roast (400 degrees F) for 15-20 minutes until browned.

Arrange veggies around rotisserie chicken on a platter and serve.

Work It Girl

So here it comes, I am returning to work VERY PART TIME on Tuesday (tomorrow!) I have mixed feelings. On one hand I crave some time with adults, away from three kids under three. I enjoy what I do professionally, working in a family practice as a Physician Assistant. The staff is great, the pay is wonderful, they are very flexible with my schedule, I enjoy catching up with patients I haven't treated for a while. On the other hand I am leaving my baby butterfly for 5 hours until Scarecrow comes home and takes over the fort!! Normally on Tuesdays my mother in law takes the twins for the day. The office could really use me on this day OF COURSE!! I really have enjoyed Tuesdays with just one. It just so happens my in laws are out of town this week. So it is trial by fire for our sitter. We do have a wonderful college woman who comes to our home and I do feel she is very capable.

My greatest concern is about my littlest one. I wonder how she will do with a bottle. She has taken a bottle since she was 2 weeks old as scarecrow would feed her pumped milk at 10 pm while I slept through a feeding. However, sometimes she just refuses to drink out of a bottle! What is the worst that can happen?

The two older ones somersaulting off of the couch while the baby is eating? Well, yes, been there done that. Let's not dwell on what could happen. I will just mind my diet (baby butterfly gets terribly gassy and crampy if I have any dairy) and send up some prayers. I will ask you to do the same - the prayers that is!

Christmas Past and A New Year Begins

Wow, Christmas is already past. That went fast. It's about time to blog about it!

It was a different Christmas this year as it was our fist Christmas away from home. We have always spent the night at my parents home on Christmas eve and celebrated Christmas together upon waking. This year things were different but good at the same time. My sis and her family decided to travel to see dear friends, so we hosted Christmas brunch. I do believe we may have started a NEW tradition.

It was baby butterfly's first Christmas. Sweet Pea and little Sprout are nearing three years old so they REALLY got into Christmas presents.

They actually enjoyed opening and playing with each and every gift. Opening presents took over two hours!!

Sweet Peas favorite presents were her new belt and underwear that she donned immediately!!

The new year was rung in with a fantastic party hosted by Ruby Red slippers and her Tin Man. It has been an annual event since B.C. (before children)!!

We get friends together, play games, have yummy food , drinks, dance ( dance dance revolution competitions), and toast in the new year as the ball drops.

We wish you the very best for a blessed new year!