Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Halloween

This is the final product of the kid's pumpkins....more detailed post to come... 

Brynnleigh's is on the left, and Owen's is on the right.  Owen designed and cut his out all on his own (well Troy helped him with the nose so he wouldn't cut it off, but that's it).  He wants to be an artist when he grows up....and he may just be right!

We hope you and your family are safe and are able to enjoy Halloween after the wrath of Sandy!


Apple Picking

I FINALLY talked Troy into taking us up to Carter Mountain Orchard a few weekends ago.  And by FINALLY, it's only taken me about 3 to 4 years.  I never had to go apple picking when I was younger, we had a HUGE apple tree in our backyard.  I was so upset when we moved and we couldn't take the apple tree with us.  Dad tried growing a new one in our new house, but they never lasted.



So a few Saturday's ago we headed north to Carter Mountain after my 8 mile training run and Owen's soccer game.  We were hoping the kids would nap on the way up, but that didn't happen.  We had some good friends go with us which made picture taking so much more fun!

And this, a few weeks before turning 2, is when Brynnleigh starts her fashion statements, she INSISTED on wearing her DOWA (Dora) boots!



They had two types of apples that we could pick (and yes, I don't remember the types...but one was green and one was red...does that count?).  O wanted to pick the green ones first, so we headed down that path...



Brynnleigh was determined to walk on her own (remember that no nap part?) so Troy stayed behind to walk with her, while we continued on down the path.  O was so excited when he saw the apples, he did not wait for Daddy.  He had his friend Miguel who could lift him up to reach the high apples.



Then O found the ones he could reach himself...



About 5-10 apples later, Troy and Brynnleigh showed up....she was very excited to pick some apples (well actually to pick one apple, and eat it!)


We then started to walk to the "red" apples since that is what our friends wanted (and O was in full out apple picking mode by then!).  So my friend Amy, Owen and myself headed to the red apples, while Miguel, Troy, and Brynnleigh tried to catch up.  At this time Brynnleigh was eating her apple, so her pace decreased tremendously!


We actually ended up running into one of Owen's friends from preschool so we didn't get any "red" apple picking photos, but Owen picked plenty with his friends while Mommy talked!  We then paid for our apples and managed to bypass the apple doughnuts that are fried in straight lard!

O was so excited to carry his apples!
We had so much fun.  It was very low key, which was perfect for the kids.  We got there before they started their fall festivals (we were about 2 weeks early) which kept the crowds down, which is exactly what I wanted.  We had no problems finding apples on the trees, and it was all for the experience for the kids, which I'm pretty sure they enjoyed!


So a big thanks to the Romero's for having fun hanging out with our crazy kiddos...(which by the way our kids LOVE you both!)


And thanks for taking these awesome pictures of our family...we have so few of the four of us.



Troy, thank you for finally giving in to my crazy excursions!  I hope you had fun....oh, and do you want to try and go again next year?  ; )




Monday, October 29, 2012

Hurricane Sandy

This weekend I had planned to work on the blog and update with what we had been up to lately...then I got all caught up in the Hurricane Sandy hype.  I tend to stalk the weather on occasion, whether it be a snow storm, hurricane, or other random weather event.  I had been watching the forecast since Tuesday of last week...and as it got closer it looked worse for my area.

Originally we were going to start feeling the effects on Sunday, so part of Saturday and all day Sunday Troy and I worked on EVERY piece of laundry in the house, yes, even those crazy wash by hand pieces that you set to the side until you HAVE to wash them...yep, even those!

Sunday ended up being a beautiful day, a nice fall day with a bit of a breeze.  The kids spent the entire day in their pjs prepared for the bad weather.  Would I trade this day?  Nope, we had a great day at home, with nothing to do and caught up on our laundry!

This morning I drove into work early just in case traffic was bad, and I left work around 2:40 pm to beat the traffic home.  Still not bad, just a typical raining day with a few wind gusts (still not bad).

Now at 9:18 PM, I'm wondering, are we in the clear, or is there more to come?  We are supposed to get heavier wind and wind gusts all night long, so I guess we just have to wait and see.  I would much rather have the crazy wind when we are all awake and I have my babies with me.  How we are set up, we are on one side of the house, and the kids on the other.  If the winds get bad, I will grab my babies and we will camp out all together!

What upsets me?  Schools were cancelled today, and tomorrow.  They totally could have gone today, but they were unsure what was going to come, and when it would come.  I wish they had just waited a bit longer before cancelling, but I totally understand they were worried for the safety of the bus drivers, students, and teachers.  I would much rather them cancel then risk it, but today was kinda a waste.

Troy had taken today, tomorrow, and Wednesday off to spend time with the kids.  He was really looking forward to putting O on the bus (which he already does every day), and getting him off the bus.  He also was looking forward to taking B to school tomorrow and picking her up.  He hasn't even had the chance to meet her teachers yet, and really wanted to.  I think he may have gone to eat lunch with O on Tuesday as well.  So I feel bad for him, that he wasn't able to follow through with his plans.

I do hope that we continue to miss most of this storm.  I'm scheduled off on Wednesday to help O's class with their "fall" party and then we were going to dress the kids up for trick or treating early so they could make it to both of their grandparents house before going around the neighborhood.  If we get a lot of damage here, then I'm not sure I can get off on Wednesday (I work for a fire & water restoration company).

So, I'm sorry for the rambling...but this storm is 100% crazy...and HUGE!  For all my friends on the east coast and North, please be careful and safe.  I am stalking FB, instagram, and anything else to keep tabs on my friends and this crazy storm.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - I did it Mama!

Yes that is correct, our little princess went pee pee in the potty tonight (10/23/12)...and yes, I had a whole different WW post planned for this week, but Brynnleigh, you earned it!



B did just turn 2 a couple of weeks ago, so we are not pushing the potty training...we are just introducing and seeing how she reacts.  She showed a ton of interest about 6 months ago and I felt that she was just too young...now, she could care less about the whole thing.  So of course, tonight, we made a HUGE deal of her accomplishment.  Hopefully she will continue, but if she doesn't...we've got time, she's only 2! ; )

So congratulations Brynnleigh, we are so proud of you!!

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, & Owen

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Halloween Preview

The kids (& I....but you have to wait a week for my costume..sorry) tested out our Halloween costumes yesterday.  They both LOVE their costumes...B needs a little fix on hers...for some reason the back of her dress is way shorter than the front...nothing a pair of leggings can't fix!

So here you go....my Halloween babies...

Owen, as Bumble Bee the Transformer



and...

Brynnleigh as Cinderella aka "Shinderellllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaa da pwrinces"


I'd love to hear what your kids are doing this year for Halloween!!


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Morning Latte + Favorite Blogs = Relaxation! #lattelove

Ahhh...what's better than 10-15 minutes of quiet freedom reading your favorite blogs?  Reading them while sipping on a great latte of course!  Did you know just how easy it is to make a latte right in your own home, without any crazy extra equipment?  Well it is, simple actually, you just need 1 part coffee, and 2 parts milk.



According to the "got milk" team you can make your latte with the fancy stuff, or with the basic stuff, you decide!

Espress-o Yourself: Thinking about getting an espresso machine? Great! If not, no problem... just brew your coffee beans stronger than usual.


Get Frothy with It: Milk frothers are a great gift. But you can also heat the milk on the stove or in the microwave, then whisk for extra foam.

Have Fun with Flavor: Check your spice cabinet to add great flavors like cinnamon or nutmeg. You can also buy your favorite syrups for a coffee shop-worthy flavor boost.

To make your latte, you can heat 1 cup milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat, whisking quickly with a wire whisk to create foam. Meanwhile, brew your strong coffee (you’ll need about 1/2 cup). Pour the heated milk into a tall mug, holding back the foam with a spoon. Add strong brewed coffee and spoon a thin layer of foamed milk over beverage You can find a bunch of fun recipes at The Breakfast Project which includes lots of different latte recipes too!

I'm not a huge coffee drinker, so no need for the expensive equipment, I made mine the old fashioned way.  I stuck with the basic latte, but I'd love to try some of the recipes posted specially the Sugar-free-pumpkin-pie-latte and the latte-love (I mean pumpkin or chocolate and peppermint...yes please!)

So, as I'm sitting in the recliner with my feet propped up and the laptop on my lap, sipping on my latte...enjoying the last 10-15 minutes before the kids wake up....I'm totally stalking my favorite blogs...

Jenni From the Blog - Jenni & I actually went to college together, her blog is 100% real and hilarious!  Warning...she just had her third baby who is ADORABLE, this blog will give you baby fever!  Jenni focuses on everyday life.  This is the blog that started my Wordless Wednesday posts!!

The Mommyhood Chronicles - I can't remember how I connect with Melissa, but I'm so glad we "met".  She helped me step The BOAT up and held my hand through the review/giveaway process.  She has a ton of giveaways, and two super cute kids to look at!  I am so thankful for her "Saturday Top Laughs Post", this is one of my favorite posts to write, and I know I will enjoy re-reading these as the kids grow!

Amy Romero Fitness - Amy and I met in high school, so we go way back.  Amy's blog focuses on exercise and nutrition.  She is a coach through Beach Body and LOVES to help people and encourage them to become active and fit! You'll always find a fun fit challenge on her blog!

Life with Two Boys - Danielle posts a ton of reviews and giveaways on her blog.  I love to check out her giveaways as well as her blog hop giveaway events...yep, this is where they all start!

Have a blog of your own?  Leave the link in the comments, I'm always looking for more to add to the list!

Now for the fun stuff, one lucky BOAT reader will win a Latte @home Care Package (tall mug, free gallon milk), please enter using Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure - This is sponsored post by The Motherhood and The Breakfast Project.  All opinions are my own.

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - My Love Bugs

I didn't even realize I took this picture...but it is my all time favorite right now!


This was taken on Thursday, Brynnleigh's 2nd Birthday.  We had both sets of grandparents, and some great grandparents over to celebrate.  Her big party was this past Saturday.  I promise a bunch of fun posts to come...apple picking, pumpkin patch, and birthday party pictures!

Oh, and yes, that's icing on her finger...she's still playing make up from her 1st birthday party when she screamed for a fork so she didn't have to get icing on her hands!


Sunday, October 7, 2012

Dark Shadows DVD Giveaway and Blog App

I'm so excited to offer this giveaway to my wonderful readers!  Who doesn't love a fun and free movie night at home? 

Warner Bros. Pictures is proud to announce the release of Dark Shadows on DVD and Blu-Ray October 2nd 2012; along with the Dark Shadows Blog App!


From the incredible mind of Tim Burton comes the hit film Dark Shadows, based on the classic television series! Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) has been trapped for two centuries by an evil witch (Eva Green) who just happens to be an ex lover. Barnabas now has to struggle with the ever changing 1970s and save his families business! With an all star cast that includes Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Chloe Grace Moretz, Jonny Lee Miller and more, Dark Shadows will be sure to whet your appetite for fun.

Make sure you check out the Ap below which includes:

* Are You Creepy Enough Quiz! Do your friends refer to you as a Child of the Night or do you shiver at the thought of a creepy crawly? Take the Are You Creepy Enough quiz to find out. (I took the quiz myself, and I am "A Child of the Light"...can't wait to read the others!)

* Barnabas’ Terror Trivia! Are you a Barnabas buff? Take the 3 truths and a lie trivia all about Barnabas Collins and you can unlock clips and downloads from Dark Shadows.

* Dark Shadows Horror-Scope! Whether you are a Virgo Vampire or a Transylvanian Taurus, you can get your custom hauntified Horror-Scope.



So now...for the fun and easy giveaway requirements!  This giveaway will be done via Rafflecopter, and ends 10/14, winner will be emailed on 10/15 and has 24 hrs to respond before a new winner is selected.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: Warner Bros. provided this giveaway and is responsible for shipping the prize to the winner. 

Thursday, October 4, 2012

#LatteLove Twitter Party

I'm so excited to participate in this event, and I hope that you all will too!  Today, at 1 PM ET there will be a #LatteLove twitter party that you don't want to miss!  There will be fun #LatteLove prizes too!  I've copied the info below....(FYI - let me know if you will be participating....I may do a fun little giveaway for my participants only!! - let me know via FB, twitter, comments, or email so I know to look for you).

#LatteLove TWITTER PARTY DETAILS
What: I am co-hosting a Twitter party to talk about making your breakfast better with an at-home latte! Americans love their lattes, and with one serving of fat free milk adding nine essential nutrients but only 80 calories and no fat, lattes love you back. Join us to chat about how you can get a nutritious and delicious start to your day.

When: Thursday, October 4, at 1 p.m. ET. It will last one hour.

Where: The party will take place on Twitter, using the #LatteLove hashtag.

Who: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann will be hosting.

Prizes: We will give away five Latte Lovers Essentials prize packs throughout the Twitter party! Each one will include a Bodum milk frother, Latte Love mug, 8 oz. Lavazza coffee, Torani syrup, McCormick spices, recipe card & coupon.

Twtvite: For more details, and to RSVP, click here!
http://www.twtvite.com/lattelove
Want a sneak peek? Enter the Latte Love Sweepstakes on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MilkMustache/app_374172189320016 - now through October 9, for a chance to win a Latte Lovers Essentials kit or Keurig brewing system! You can also find easy tips, recipes & ideas for making lattes, cappuccinos or other coffee drinks at home on The Breakfast Project, https://www.facebook.com/MilkMustache or http://www.milkmustache.com.
For at-home latte recipe ideas and inspiration, check out these links:
Nine-Nutrient Boost:
http://www.milkmustache.com/recipes/nine-nutrient-boost/Morning Pick-Me-Up: http://www.milkmustache.com/recipes/morning-pick-me-up/Ooh La Latte: http://www.milkmustache.com/recipes/ooh-la-latte/     

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Wordless Wednesday - Family

We rarely get pictures of the 4 of us all together, so I cherish it when we do.  These were taken two weeks ago at Carter's Mountain.  Post to come soon with more on this trip....but someone has decided to turn 2 tomorrow and the whole family is busy prepping for a fun birthday party this weekend!!



Oh and yes, B is missing her shoes...poor thing was already in the car ready to go home and we decided we needed a picture...which I'm so glad we took!