{An Adoption Update}

I'm overdue for giving an adoption update! Pssst, if you follow me on Twitter, you will see our updates there much more quickly!

Last week we decided to pack up and go to Dallas. Our house had another leak and our builder decided to rip all the fittings out and have them replaced, which they did while we were gone.

I had submitted our profile to another birthmom (our 5th). We found out Friday that she didn't select us. So far the feedback is because we have biological kids. Meanwhile, our attorney called and wanted me to talk with a birthmom that he has been working with. I don't want to go into the conversation but I will say that it was quite an experience. That was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had...and I get her questions and everything, but it was still hard. She knew before talking to us that she didn't want to work with us because we had children.

So, in 7 months that is 6 moms who have either turned us down or decided to parent. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard. It is hard. But I'm so glad to have my husband and kids - they make every day a blessing. I'm grateful to my Twitter friends to, and all of you who are praying for us.

I was telling my friends on Twitter that each No brings us closer to our Yes. I really believe that. I believe that God has a plan for us and we are committed to submitting to His will even when it's hard.

When we went through infertility, I didn't submit. I tried to control everything and force it to go my way. Clearly, that doesn't work! In our case, it wasn't until I gave up my fight, and handed my worries and burdens over to God that we got pregnant. I promised myself that I wouldn't try to control this situation. I'm going to trust in Him to lead and guide us.

Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight."

Introducing...

Be sure to follow me on BlogLovin!

A new blog series!

I am so excited about this that I could cry! For a long time I've felt God leading me to talk about marriage here on the blog. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't be the one to do this. I'm younger than some of you. I've been married less time than some of you. You may have had bigger life issues to contend with than I have. Eventually I decided that none of that matter if God had laid it on my heart to discuss this topic. When I began to seriously consider how to go about this, I realized that it didn't have to be just me...so I asked a few of my fellow blog friends to join in and we created the Love and Marriage Blog Series!

Each Wednesday in April, we are going to discuss a new topic pertaining to marriage. We are going to share our trials and triumphs with you and we hope and pray that we can be an encouragement in your lives! 

So often in blogland, everything seems "perfect" - the perfect family, the perfect parties, the perfect friends, the perfect marriage...but we know that nothing, and I mean nothing, in life is ever perfect because none of us are perfect!

I hope that you will join all of us starting next Wednesday, April 3 for this exciting new series! Below is a list of the participating bloggers a little bio about each of us! You can click the links to visit their blog and facebook pages! Next week's topic will be introducing ourselves to all of you and giving you an overview of our marriages. Be sure to check out all of the posts!

Blog//Facebook

Blog//Facebook

Blog//Food Blog

Blog//Facebook

Blog//Facebook

Blog//Facebook

Join us every Wednesday in April for the Love & Marriage Blog Series!

Traveling to Dallas, Allen & Grapevine, Texas with KIDS!!!

Be sure to follow me on BlogLovin!

Chris and I love taking the kids to Dallas. This time we went back for a little R&R...you see, our house sprung a leak again. It appears that the fittings that were used are having issues so while we were gone they were all replaced. Hallelujah!

Anyway, back to the point. We love going to Dallas because it's within driving distance from our house and I don't know about you, but flying with a 2 and 4 year old does not top my list of things I'd like to do. My car with it's DVD players is our friend!

So, I was in Dallas and tweeting about some of the fun things we were doing and a couple of my twitter friends asked for more info. I sent them emails because it was just too much to tweet and then more people asked. I decided maybe it would be a good idea to just write a post. 

Here it is - a list of things to do with little ones in Dallas and the surrounding areas!

Allen

If you haven't visited Allen, you are missing out. Why? This cute, clean, new looking little town has the BEST OUTLET MALL E-VAH! Can you tell I love a good outlet? They have my very favorites: Le Creuset (I've even called them and ordered over the phone), J.Crew, Last Call by Neiman Marcus etc. You can view a full list here.

Don't laugh but this makes my list...they have an In-N-Out burger. It's new and awesome. And order some animal style fries for me. (PS - They have them in Dallas too).

There is also a Whole Foods here. I love that place. In fact, I love it so much that when we come I bring an ice chest and we stop there on the way home. This is what foodie bloggers do. ;-)

If you've got little ones with you that need to burn off some energy, check out Celebration Park. It's huge and awesome and my kids played for over an hour there one day. They LOVED it! I think it had a splash pad too but it was too cold outside, so it wasn't on. Don't quote me on that though! You can see more info on it here. 

Last but not least, check out Big Ray's BBQ on Main Street. Order the ribs and get a side of banana pudding. Your taste buds will thank me.

As far as hotels go, the only one we've stayed at here is the Homewood Suites. I highly recommend it. Is it 5 stars? Nope. But if you have little ones its really practical! We stayed in a (very affordable) 2 bedroom suite. Brayden had a room, we had a room and Brody's pack-in-play went in the living room. It was awesome. They also have a full continental breakfast (waffles, sausage, bagels, ham and cheese sandwiches etc) and they serve dinner each night too. I think dinner is actually free but don't hold me to that - we never ate dinner there.

Dallas

What isn't there to do in Dallas?

How about we discuss a few of my personal favorites?

The Dallas Zoo is great. This is the second time we've gone and the kids had a blast. It is SO fun. It hasn't been busy either time we've gone. In fact, both times, we parked literally right in front of the entrance and has less than a minutes walk to get in. The kids get to feed the giraffes (it costs about $5) and go through a children's petting area (with horses, pigs, rabbits etc). The exhibits are great. There are: tigers, lions, (bears, oh my! just kidding, I don't think they had bears) penguins, koala bears, elephants, giraffes etc. They also have camel rides!

You can bring your own ice chests in along with snacks which is nice because a bottle of water is crazy expensive once you're inside. Oh, and you can ride a camel too! My boys had a blast there!

Affiliated with the zoo is the Dallas World Aquarium. It's not the only aquarium in Dallas (this trip we went to the Children's Aquarium at Fairpark (more on that later) but we like it the best. The exhibits are pretty good, but don't expect to be blown away if you've been to any of the big players (like the Monterey Bay Aquarium). It's not overly stroller friendly in my opinion, especially if you have a side by side. 

The Children's Aquarium, is much smaller but also way more little kid friendly. The exhibits are more on their level and there is a sting ray bay where the kids can actually pet the stingrays. Overall, the staff there is more friendly and helpful and it was not crowded by any means. Figuring out where to park is difficult because the signage is REALLY poor. 

Of course there is also the Dallas Galleria. If you have older kids, check out the ice skating rink on the bottom level. The shopping is great and you can stay onsite at the Westin Hotel. We've stayed there countless times and as much as we like it, with two little ones who need their own space, it's no longer a practical hotel for us. If Chris and I are alone we stay there. While you are there, eat at the Grand Luxe Cafe...it's wonderful! Get the fresh dozen chocolate chip cookies to take home with you. 

You can also drive over to Arlington and take a tour of Cowboys Stadium if you're a football fanatic! We didn't go this time but we have gone in the past. 

I have my twitter friend, Leah, to thank for this next one. She told me about Klyde Warren Park. It's the adorable park built on top of an old overpass in a nicer part of town. They have an awesome children's play area and my favorite thing in the world, food trucks. We ate at The Butcher's Son and it was out of this world good. If you go, take a chance on the sliders! So good! 

We were planning to go to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and walked over from the park. The bad thing was we literally could not find the front entrance. We eventually gave up because we were tired and hot and left but I've heard great things about it. My word of advice is not to walk over from the park though. Get in your car and drive!

Lastly, if you've never been to the Arboretum, I recommend going. If you are planning a trip in the fall, that is the PERFECT time to go! They have tens of thousands of gorgeous pumpkins  - check out my post of our visit there in the fall of 2011. 

Grapevine

There are two great reasons to visit Grapevine...The Gaylord Texan and the Great Wolf Lodge! Now, to be fair, I haven't stayed at either of these hotels but they look AWESOME! The Great Wolf Lodge is supposed to be great for families with kids. 

Also, be sure to visit the Grapevine Mills Mall. It's a combo of regular stores and outlets but the main reason we went was to visit the Rainforest Cafe. If you've never been to one and you're in the area, check it out! It's so entertaining for kids. They light up the inside with thunderstorms and the jungle animals "come alive." It's decorated like the rainforest and is very cute, but the prices are a little high. 

Close by is a cute little main street/old town area with antique shops and little eateries. We drove through and it was adorable! Next time, I'll be sure to stop and take a look around. 

Did I miss your favorite place in one of these cities? 

Leave a comment and tell me all about it!

Shortbread(ish) Chocolate Chip Cookies {Recipe Repost}

I have a variety of my favorite cookie recipes on this blog. I am almost always working on a new cookie. Baking is so relaxing for me! I came up with this recipe a year or so ago and posted it but the picture was pretty bad, so I knew I wanted to repost it. I made a batch of these for the crew that was laying our sod but I managed to snap a halfway decent picture before I took the cookies outside. 

If you want a super, super soft cookie unlike any chocolate chip cookie you've had before, this is the recipe. These do not get hard and crispy the next day but stay nice and soft and flaky. Annnnd, now I'm hungry.

Looking for more cookies? Check out these recipes:

Giant Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jenna's Favorite CCC's

BIG Chocolate Chip Cookies

109 Calorie, Deep, Dark Chocolate Cookies

Spread Cookies

Double Chocolate Cookie Bars

{Cake Mix} Cookie Bars

The order of ingredients is pretty important in this recipe - with the egg and brown sugar coming in at the end. And you're reading this correctly - there is NO baking soda or powder in these cookies.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread-ish Cookies

Source: JennaBlogs.com

1 and a half sticks of butter, softened

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

1 tablespoon water

1.5 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup white sugar

1.25 cups chocolate chips

Cream butter, white sugar, vanilla, salt and water.

Add flour in 2-3 batches.

Add your egg.

Finally, add brown sugar. Mix well. Stir in chips by hand.

Scoop large hunks of rounded dough onto a baking sheet - I use my biggest ice cream scoop.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.

Spaghetti Squash with Pomodoro Sauce

So, there's this Italian restaurant in town that I LOVE. I could eat there every day...and I would weigh 1,000 pounds! They have this Pomodoro sauce with a Mediterranean flair that I could literally drink straight. It is so amazingly good. The last time we were there we asked what was in it and to my surprise they gave me the ingredient list. I've been trying to recreate this sauce like it is my job. 

I haven't been able to get it exactly right, and made a few additions, but this recipe is pretty close and VERY delicious. It's a pretty healthy side dish when served over my baked spaghetti squash and you could always top it with grilled chicken for a full meal!

Spaghetti Squash with Pomodoro Sauce
Source: JennaBlogs.com
Serves 4

1 spaghetti squash
1 28oz can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped but not minced
1/4 cup chopped katamala olives
1/3 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt, Pepper & EVOO

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375.

Cut your squash lengthwise in half and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Be warned - cutting up a raw spaghetti squash is pretty hard. I usually ask my husband to help so I don't lose an appendage.  Place skin side UP on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake about 40 minutes. Use a fork to remove the strands.

For the sauce:

Heat a pot over medium and add 1 tablespoon EVOO. Sweat your onions (salt and pepper them) for about 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add in your garlic, cook another minute. Add in your tomatoes, olives, feta, chili flakes, oregano and basil. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. If sauce starts to get too thick add about a 1/2 cup water.

Remove from heat and stir in your parsley. Serve over squash.

Turkey Lasagna Cups

I'm pretty excited about sharing this recipe today. When spring rolls around (see what I did there? a little food humor) I start cooking "lighter" - we eat tons of grilled chicken in a variety of ways, but sometimes I want something different. I have seen lots of other food bloggers and food magazines doing "lasagna cups" and I was thinking about how I could do a lighter version of this new trend.

What I came up with are my Turkey Lasagna Cups. I almost never use ground beef - in fact, the only thing I can think of that I still use it for are tacos. I've made them with chicken and turkey but nothing beats a good ground beef taco! Anyway, back to the lasagna cups. I knew I'd use turkey and then I realized that I could use eggroll wrappers instead of pasta. The result was a crispy cup that was really delicious. 

If the turkey filling looks familiar, it's because I used a lot of the same ingredients that you will find in my Healthy Turkey Lasagna Soup!

The above picture is right before I put them in the oven. Below is the finished product.

Turkey Lasagna Cups
Source: JennaBlogs.com
Makes 12

1lb all white meat ground turkey
24 eggroll wrappers (usually found near the tofu in the refrigerated area - my store keeps them with the produce)
1 Spanish (yellow) onion, finely diced
1 14.5 ounce can organic tomato sauce
1/2 of a can of water
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1.5 tsp dried basil
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 cup (or a little more) fresh mozzarella cheese, grated
Salt, pepper and EVOO

Preheat your oven to 375.

Add 1 tablespoon EVOO to a large skillet over medium heat. Add in turkey and onions being sure to salt and pepper them. Cook until turkey is done. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add in tomato sauce, half a can of water (swirl it around to get the sauce that is stuck to the can too), chili flakes, oregano and 1 tsp of the basil.

Simmer sauce on low or medium low depending on your stove for about 10 minutes while you get everything else prepared. Stir occasionally.

In a bowl, mix together your ricotta, remaining basil and some salt and pepper. Set aside. Grate your cheese and set aside.

Spray a 12 ct muffin tin with non-stick spray. Place 1 eggroll wrapper in each cup being sure to press it down.

Now it's time to assemble the cups!

Place 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture in each cup, swirling it around to coat the bottom. Then add about 2 tablespoons of your turkey sauce and top with a little bit of mozzarella. Place another eggroll wrapper on top of the cheese, pushing it down firmly. Repeat layers (ricotta, turkey, mozzarella).

Bake for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and the wrappers are crispy.

Serving these can be a little difficult - they don't all come out of the tins perfectly, so keep that in mind if you are making this for company!

{Cake Mix} Cookie Bars

Need to throw together a dessert to take to your next gathering? Short on time? Then you have to try this recipe...because it starts with boxed cake mix. Trust me, it doesn't get any easier than that! All you need is thirty minutes and you'll have a delicious, homemade treat to take with you. 

If you want a from scratch cookie bar recipe, check it out here!

I also have a great cookie recipe that starts with a devil's food cake mix. You can find it here! Also, check out my sour cream chocolate cupcakes; they start out with boxed cake mix too!

Cake Mix Cookie Bars

Source: JennaBlogs.com

Yield: 9*13 pan (12-20 servings depending on cut)

1 box yellow cake mix

2 eggs

¾ cup vegetable/canola oil

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ packet of 5.1 ounce vanilla pudding mix (only use 2.5 ounces and store the rest for next time)

1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray a 9*13 with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine cake mix, eggs, oil, water, extract and pudding mix with a whisk in a large bowl.

Fold in chocolate chips. Spread into pan. Batter will be thick! Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out of the center clean.

5 Fun Activities To Do When Your Kids Are Sick

A few weeks ago I introduced you to Children's Mucinex and then followed up with a post about what we, as parents do when our little ones are under the weather. As a fan of cooking, preparing special meals for my family when they are sick is a natural thing for me, but today I want to talk about some fun activities that you can do with your kids when they aren't feeling their best.

1.) A Special Surprise

I give full credit for this idea to my mom. When I was little and would get sick she always took me with her to get my medicine. While we were at the store, she always let me pick out a special something to take home. Sometimes it was a Barbie, others it would be a word search game, a new book, a movie, or even silly putty. Remember that stuff? Anyway, getting to take home something fun and new is a special memory I still have and like to replicate for my sick kids.

2.) Sick Day Movies

If you have young kids, like I do, then you might relate to this. My boys have a plethora of movies. Some of them I like, and will gladly watch with them. Some of them I can tolerate being on while I'm cooking or doing something distracting. Then there are those movies that I cringe when I hear the opening music come on. I call them the Nails on the Chalkboard collection, or the Sick Day Movies. It seems like kids are drawn to the movies that drive their parents insane, right? I like to keep those special movies set aside and break them out on sick days. The boys are thrilled that they are getting to watch them and it definitely keeps them entertained!

3.) Slushy Time

I love giving my kids little indulgences when they don't feel well. I'm lucky that my boys seem to get even sweeter when they are ill, and they really love all the extra attention. One inexpensive treat that they love but don't get often is a slushy from Sonic. When they aren't feeling so great, and especially if their throats are bugging them, I'll take them to grab a slushy. They are inexpensive, especially if you go during their happy hour when drinks are half price and soothing!

4.) Teach Then Something New

The last time Brayden was sick I decided to teach him how to play Tic Tac Toe, are as he likes to call it, Tic Toe. Even though he didn't feel good, he loved learning something new and it also gave him a chance to practice drawing his letters. It kept him entertained for hours and now when he sees the game on a menu if we go out, he insists we play it!

5.) Make Your Own Color Book

Coloring is one of my kids favorite activities. To kick this up a notch for a day spent at home, we find printable coloring pages for free on the internet - you can find them for almost anything; a favorite cartoon, animal etc. Print out several for your child to color. This is great because if they are old enough, you can set them up with a breakfast tray in bed and they can color from there if they aren't well enough to sit at the table. Then, give them a piece of colored construction paper to make a cover and staple the book together. Voila! They're very own, handmade coloring book!


The next time your little one comes down with the inevitable cold, give Children’s Mucinex a try! And go here to print a $2 off coupon!

Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold 
When your child has a bad cold, you both can feel miserable. Children's Mucinex is the #1 children's brand for relieving congestion* and provides fast acting relief from your child's worst cold symptoms. Try Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold if your child needs relief from stuffy nose and chest congestion. Always use Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold as directed. (*Based on IRI unit share data for the 52 weeks ending November 2012) 

  What activity makes your child smile when they are under the weather? Leave me a comment for a chance to win a $100 CVS gift card!

No duplicate comments.
You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 – 3/31/2013

Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Fabulous Free Fonts {List 2}

A few months ago, I brought you 10 of my favorite free fonts. Missed it? You can find that post here. Today I bring you 15 more fabulous, free fonts!

I love collecting awesome fonts and showcasing them on my food photos. I think they can just amp up a picture! I hope you love these as much as I do!

CREDITS:

Haymaker (enter $0 to download)
Matilde
Somebody That I Used To Know
WonderLust
Stylish
Strawberry Limeade
Nautic
Ever After
Sachiko
ScribbleBox
Wisdom Script (enter $0 to download)
Greenbeans
Safe & Sound
Birmingham
Print Clearly

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

Does this look familiar? It might, because I actually posted this last year. I made these the other night and decided to take some better (read: non-iPhone) pictures of them, so I'm reposting! 

The next time you go to small group, choir practice, your kids sports game, teacher appreciation day, the family BBQ, a bridal shower, the neighbors house...take these with you! You can make them in less than 30 minutes!

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups
Source: JennaBlogs.com

1 box chocolate brownie mix

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup of chips of some kind - I used dark chocolate

Heat oven to 350.

Prepare brownie mix according to box directions.

Scoop into muffin tins (mine are silicone - they come out much easier). For one box of brownie mix you'll get between 12 and 18 cups. Next time I make these I'll divide just into 12 cups.

*Note, if you don't have enough to fill a second pan, fill the empty cups with some water to ensure even baking for that pan. Or at least, that's what Mom always does so I do it too.

Bake for about 18=20 min's, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a brownie comes out mostly clean, but still a little wet.

Wait for the centers to fall. If they don't (and most of mine didn't) just use the back of a teaspoon and make yourself a small hole (don't go all the way through the brownie).

Microwave your peanut butter for 45 seconds. Stir. Place a heaping tablespoon into the center of each brownie.

Are you drooling yet?

Next, I placed 3 large dark chocolate chips in the center of each brownie.

Let cool COMPLETELY on a wire rack. If they aren't completely cooled they will fall apart!

EAT UP!!!

The Simple Life: On Why I Like An Open Calendar & The Evolution & Future of My Blog

Playdates.

Lunches.

Conferences.

Small groups.

Church activities.

School.

Birthday parties.

Anxiety.



If you read back through the last several years of my blog posts you might notice something has changed around here.

When I was pregnant and then after I had Brayden I wanted to be in every vehicle that was moving. I wanted to be a part of everything. If a friend wanted to go somewhere I was in. If there was an activity going on at church I was there. When the opportunity came up to help launch a new church we joined in and drove 30 minutes each way several times a week to be a part of everything that was going on. I was in several playgroups, a small group and had regular lunches with friends.

Long story short, I had at least one activity every single day of the week.

When I had Brody things got even busier. And over time, I got burned out.

This world we live in, with bloggers and pinterest accounts that dictate what "success" looks like - generally filled with magazine worthy birthday parties, time for girls night outs, a immaculate home without a single corner left undecorated and kids who look like an advertisement for monogrammed clothing boutiques just became too much.

Unconsciously, I began taking a step back. My blog began to transform itself from mom blog to 50% mom blog, 50% food blog. I cancelled a lot of my commitments and we made the difficult decision to leave a church we loved because the travel time was leaving us burned out.

Then we decided to build our home in the country.

I knew things would change anyway when we moved and I wasn't 2 minutes from the freeway, 5 minutes from the mall and close to most of my friends.

Over the last few months, I've cleared my calendar. I don't have something every single day...or even every other day. And I LOVE IT. My marriage is reaping the benefits of me being at home more often and happier, more relaxed. My kids are reaping those benefits as well, which is funny considering I was doing all of that running around because I thought it was best for them.

It turns out that in our case, my kids just enjoy being at home with me. They are happiest that way. We still do things with friends - lunch dates at Chickfila, hanging out etc. I have friends that thrive on the busy life - each day planned without a minute to spare, and that's wonderful, but for us it just wasn't working.

So, you might have noticed a change in my blog. It's a change I'm proud of, and one that you'll probably continue to see evolving. After all, I'm a country girl now and with that will come lots of new things. I plan to start sharing more of my life again but you'll still be getting plenty of my family approved recipes each week.

I love this community. I've made so many wonderful friends that I never would have met if it hadn't been for blogging and Twitter. I want to reconnect with all of you and look forward to talking to you in the comments, on your blogs and on twitter.

BooBoo's & Burst Pipes

I mentioned in an earlier post that our Valentine's day was quite eventful. That might have been an understatement. 

Our mailbox at our new home is about a mile from the house. We have an enclosed off road vehicle called a Kubota that we use to go get our mail and ride around our property - we use it every day. Anyway, both boys always wear their seat belts and the doors are shut but they don't lock. 99% of the time, all four of us go together but this particular day we had a guy at the house installing some stuff so I was staying behind in case he had any questions. 

What ended up happening is that when they hit a bump, Brayden's hand fell off of the handlebar that he always holds and he opened the door. He seat belt failed and he fell out the open door. They are suicide doors so I think it just kind of sucked him out with it. He fell onto asphalt. 

Because of where we live it was easier to meet the ambulance than for them to come to us, so we met up with them. Brayden had a CT scan and X-Rays done and then ended up with 2 stitches in his mouth. 

Here we are in the ER:

What's amazing is this photo...it was taken exactly one week later:

Can you believe how good he looks?! The only issue we're dealing with now is a tooth that got injured, which prompted our very first visit to the pediatric dentist. He did SO well and Brody thought it was a ton of fun too! We go back in one month to find out what we will have to do with his tooth. It might heal, he might need a root canal or a fake tooth.

And when it rains, it pours because the day after the accident, February 15, our house flooded.

That's right, our brand new home, that we'd been in for one month had a pipe burst in the walls flooding the downstairs. 

Here are a few of the 15 fans that were in the kitchen/hallway area:

A 99 cent fitting that holds two pipes together failed causing the leak. Thankfully we were home and Chris ran outside and turned the main water line off. If he hadn't I can't even begin to imagine the damage that would have been done!

As it was, we ended up moving out for a week while the flooring was ripped up and replaced as well as some walls, baseboards and columns.

We are finally back home and just got our furniture moved back in a few days ago. Yay!

We are hoping March will be a MUCH calmer month! I am going to get pics of our new house posted for you soon!

Snow Day!

This week is finally snowed more than an inch! Yay!!!

My kids were super, SUPER excited. The last time we got a little snow I had told them we'd play after naptime...but then it had all melted! We weren't going to repeat that mistake again!

Brody loved running in huge circles in the snow!

And so did Brayden!

Chris built the world's fastest snowman ever. I seriously think it took about 10 minutes to build!

I actually got in a picture for once:

It was a good thing we let them go play in the morning because after naptime was over it was practically all gone!

Did you get any of this weeks crazy weather? Oh, and have you entered to win one of the $100 CVS cards I'm giving away? Check it out here!