Stay tuned...

So, I've been doing some major cleaning around my house lately. Mainly because I finally can.

There was seriously no point before, because baby gear had taken over our lives and home, I mean, you need it, so it wasn't time to toss it....

until now!

It feels so good! We shipped the kids to my parents for the day this past Saturday, and went to town.

We purged, big time.

My husband is a borderline hoarder, but I was on a mission...if you haven't used it/thought about it in 6 months, it's GONE!

We had the occasional, "Oh, I've been looking for this" or "OH, I forgot about this, I should totally keep it" but I stood firm.

The end result, is the upstairs of our house looks fantastic!

haha, yes, just the upstairs, the downstairs is still a work in progress, but hey that's where we spend most of our time so it's gonna take some work!

I have lots of projects I want to get done, like painting the kitchen, and kitchen cabinets, and getting furniture for our still empty sitting room!

But it's slowly all coming together and I'm excited :)

I'll be posting pictures of the progress...so stay tuned!

Chicken Chili Recipe

Can't believe I haven't posted this yet!

This is a staple at my house...and with the recent snowfall, it was so nice to have a crock pot full of it!

There are several different variations of this in internet land, but this is how I do it!

3 boneless chicken breasts (they can be thawed or frozen, I've done it both ways)

1 pack of taco seasoning

1 pack of dry ranch dressing mix

1 can baked beans

1 can black beans

1 can red beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can corn

2 cups of salsa

Dump it all in your crock pot and cook!

Once it's done, I take two forks and shred the chicken apart.

Throw it in a bowl with some sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese, and you have dinner!

DELICIOUS!

Who really cares???

I'm feeling a little bit like a downer, but I could care less that tomorrow is Valentine's Day...

I mean, really? Who cares, anyways?

I'm married with 3 kids, tomorrow is going to be just like any other day except everyone will be wearing some sort of pink or red clothing. For the first time in....forever, me and my hubby aren't even going out to dinner.

And I'm okay with that.

Honestly, I love my husband, and I know he loves me. We love each other every single day, so Valentine's Day has really just turned in to a special holiday for the kids, rather than just for us.

The big girl worked on coloring and putting stickers on her Valentine's Cards for her friends and teachers, to take to her her morning program tomorrow. I loaded up on some new books to lay out for when the girls wake up in the morning, at the age my kids are, I'm trying to avoid hyping them up with chocolates...so, books will do just fine :)

I hope everyone has a fantastic Valentine's Day tomorrow, doing whatever it is that makes you happy!

Juliette says....

I don't have much for you today...

although last night, when the Big Girl noticed my belt and said "Oh mommy, you're seat-belt is so pretty" I realized I needed to make a post about the sweet/crazy things she says, if not just for posterity purposes!

So here we go....

Belt= Seat belt (which really is genius if you think about it)

At Christmas, we had a little jingle bell, which she affectionately referred to as a meatball

When she wants to be picked up, she says "up, up"

Instead of "No Thank you" she says "Oh, no please" - Example- "Juliette would you like some more milk?" "Oh, no please" (at least she's polite).

She says "HEY" a lot :)

Every time she eats or drinks something she says "Oh I loooooove (insert beverage or food)"

When something is delicious, it's "So yum-yum"

And lastly but certainly not least, if she thinks you look beautiful she says "Oh, you're a princess".

In fact, a few weeks ago, Jerry Seinfeld was in town and my hubby and I scored some tickets. As I came downstairs all dressed to go, Juliette said

"Oh mommy, you're a princess!!! Are you going to dance class???"

The things kids say! Love it!

Happy 2012

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years!

I know I'm a little late, but hey, I've been enjoying the time with my family :)

Our New Years, was low-key, we just stayed in with the kids, but it was perfect. The only downfall, were the fire works...yes, I've become "that" woman. When you have small kids, fireworks are your worst nightmare. Naturally our neighbors across the street had 30 minutes of explosions planned for when the clock struck midnight...

thank the lord, the girls slept right through it, I'm still not sure how because it was really loud, but I'm not complaining!

Our Christmas really was perfect though. The kids had a blast, they loved all their toys, and being surrounded by family is always a good thing:)

Anyone make New Year's Resolutions???? Mine are just to be happy, healthy, and thankful!!!!

Traditions..

Can you believe Christmas is 2 days away!?!?!

I'm freaking out...but in a good way!

I love this time of year, although I feel like I would be loving it a lot more if it actually felt like Christmas. It's 60 degrees in Richmond, and that is NOT Christmas weather...I need blistering cold..is that too much to ask?

As we get closer to the big day, I've been thinking about Christmas Traditions. Traditions that I've started, traditions that I've kept going, and traditions I would like to create...

Traditions I'd like to create...

The Elf on the Shelf. It's a cute idea, although I don't think my kids are ready for it yet. I think next Christmas the big girl will be the perfect age (3 1/2) to really enjoy it.

Christmas Eve Mass. Okay, I said it, and I feel like a horrible catholic now. One day, perhaps we will all actually be able to attend mass on Christmas Eve, right now, it's just to chaotic with the kids being the age they are. If we go to mass, we go in shifts because it's easier and frankly more enjoyable without having to worry about your children completely disrupting the service!

Traveling with Treats. We already make cookies every year with our family, but I'm thinking bigger scale. I'd really love to take treats to the local fire stations, pharmacies, and the NICU where Annabelle was cared for.

Tacky light tour. Again, my kids are just too young (and we're outnumbered) to keep on top of at these crowded tacky light places, BUT one day we will do it. This year we did a quick drive through our neighborhood and the kids loved it!

Christmas Dinner. I'm making a turkey and stuffing and the whole sha-bam this year for our little family of 5. Eventually I would love to have my parents, mother-in-law, brothers, etc etc, the whole fam over every Christmas for a big dinner

Christmas Chains- you know, where you make a link for every day until Christmas, and every day you wake up, you take a link off. Again it's an age thing, but next year, is totally our year for Christmas chains!

A tradition that I've started for my kids is opening presents on Christmas Eve...

Before you freak out, we don't open everything!!!!

They get one present and it's the same thing every year! Every Christmas Eve, they get a pair of christmas jammies to wear to bed and they get an ornament. I came up with the ornament idea my first Christmas as an adult living on my own.

I had no freaking ornaments for my tree!!!

light bulb!

So, I decided for my kids, I would give them an ornament every year for their collection, and when they are older and on their own, they will have a box full of ornaments to start their first tree off!

Cute, right???

Although, now that I think about it, my babies are never going to leave me! ha.

Traditions I've been carrying on, include but are not limited to...

Cookie Day! Everyone comes over and we decorate (and eat) tons of cookies!

Tree-trimming! We always put up the tree and decorate the day after Thanksgiving!

Holiday cards, santa pictures, leaving milk and cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve, and OF COURSE having the kids wait at the top of the stairs until mom and dad have checked to make sure Santa has indeed come, and is done unloading all the gifts!

So, what are some of your traditions??

Christmas Week

I hope everyone has been enjoying the holiday season!

We have been plagued with stomach flu, crupe, and the big girl got her first shiner at daycare (right before holiday pictures....of course).

Happy to report, it looks like we are finally all healthy for the week before Christmas!!! This past week, we decorated cookies, and finished up the last of the shopping. This week, we have got to try and get Santa pictures done!

I'm so excited for Santa to come this year, the big girl really gets it this year, and is so excited to see what Santa will leave for her!

She currently has asked for...

a car

and a meatball (which for some reason is what she calls a jingle bell)!!!!

The babies don't really understand, but they know something is going on!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!