These are Some Good Times...

Does the title remind you of a song? "These are some good times, take a good look around" by Trace Adkins! I love this song not only for my kids, but for myself. Life tends to get crazy around our house and the daily tasks can consume you. Then, I take a step back and realize I AM going to miss this! These times are so precious and I will always remember them. Sometimes having two babies 12 months apart can look like craziness, but really it is so much fun and I wouldn't have it any other way!

This weekend was Easter and we headed to my parent's lake place. My brother and sister-in-law were heading to her parents and Mark's family had been through a lot this week, so we decided to head to lake and get away and try something different with my parents and brother Matt. The lake brings back so many childhood memories and I want my kids to have their own memories as well. We arrived Friday night (even though the tornado sirens were going off) and settled in. On Saturday morning my dad made us reservations at their club for brunch. The sun came out and we had such an amazing time. Well...minus the Easter bunny showing up. We were all sitting at the table enjoying our food when suddenly Avery starts screaming-these were not sad tears-these were tears and screams of fear! When we looked around we saw the Easter bunny! I didn't know if I should laugh or cry-cry because she was truly scared! Luckily super dad scooped her up and removed her from the evil bunny:)

Later they had an egg hunt so Avery got to try hunting for the first time. She was more interested in picking up eggs and giving them to other children. After all that excitement it was time to head back for naps!

Grandma shared her desert!

Papa is very good at entertaining Macklin

It begins...

Wait...photo opportunities with the golf course behind us

FINALLY!!! Pictures of the two of them with both faces!

Love this one

Mark was good at getting her to hunt!

Again...these are some good times and I will miss this!

Easter Morning

We finally had someone to hunt eggs this year. Avery really got the concept toward the end. We tried not to spoil them too much this year because we want Easter to be about the religious aspect- not the Easter bunny. Luckily, Avery was terrified of the bunny (I will post pictures from our Easter brunch later) so maybe it won't be too hard:) My mom and Dad set up a great display-below are pictures of their gifts and some egg hunting!

Then we attempted church and these two were amazing. Avery started singing when the choir was singing (it made me tear up it was so cute). It was fun being at the lake and trying new things. It might be our new tradition!

Spring Photo Opportunity

Last fall we planted 100 tulip bulbs along our driveway-I was excited to see what they looked like with our Bradford pears! They are so amazing and turned out to be a perfect place to get some fun photos of my little man (Avery wouldn't sit for the pictures-just the occasional kiss to her brother). He definatly ate on of the tulips, so there is no longer any petals on the one that was in front of him. Enjoy!

Sibling love

Cooper snuck in for one!

Happy Spring!!!!

At Home Healthy Meals

May 1, 2011 : 1 can of Rotel, 1 lb of turkey meat and 1 cup of brown rice.

*cook meat

*put in Rotel and dried rice

*let it cook!

April 14, 2011

Crock Pot Idea:

1 can of corn

1 can of black beans

1 jar 10 oz salsa

4-5 frozen chicken breast

Throw all of this in crock pot for 5 to 6 years

then add one small tube of plain greek yogurt

April 9, 2011 I know for many other moms, cooking when you work full time takes a lot of energy. Add all the other things to do in life and there is no time. I have been on the look for fast, but healthy meals! I still have a great deal to lose after my babies and learned that what you eat is 80% of the process to losing weight. YIKES! So when you don't have time everyday to be working out, this becomes even more important. I want to have a place to add recipes and would love to hear from other people!

BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders (taken from Cooking Light Magazine March)

1/2 cup no-salt-added ketchup

1 tbl dark brown sugar

1 tbl cider vinegar

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp allspice

2 cups shredded boneless chicken breast (I cooked up two breast the night before when making something else-that way it was all ready)

8 1.3 ounce sliders mini buns (I used the whole grain flat buns 100 cals)

dill of bread and butter pickles

1) Combine all 10 ingredients in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer-stir. Add chicken and cook 2 min.

2) spoon on chicken mixture on buns and add pickle chip!

This takes about 20 min and was so good! I made Brussels Sprouts and salad (dressing: Dijon Mustard, balsamic vin., Splenda, olive oil, salt and pepper, and fresh basil)

Tons of Trucks

I had to put these pictures up today during my lunch break because I am so excited how they turned out! We decided to bring the kids to an event that involved trucks-lots and lots of trucks-every kind of truck you could imagine! This was perfect for our family. I think I am going to have to get some of these pictures for our family wall!

Cousin Cohan came too! I don't think you will ever find Avery without food. At least she likes to share!

Don't they look like siblings?

Can and I have your hat?

Yeah, sure take it!

This picture is a keeper!

He was a little tired

I Love this camera!!!!!

How to Kick off Spring

AWWWW! Spring is finally here. I love this time of year and am loving it more now that I am a mom. We can finally get outside and it means we are closer to having the summer off together. Avery and Mack are changing everyday and it makes me sad to not always be with them. So when I had a chance to have a week off with them I was so excited. What a better way to spend our time off together then to go to St. Louis to be with my family?

After Mark, My dad and myself ran our 5K (which has made me addicted to running) my parents took us back home with them. It was a VERY full car and a tight squeeze (you would understand if you ever saw how big our double stroller is). As soon as we arrived Avery took charge and Mack was happy to get carried around watching his sister. Brent and Sarah brought the girls over for our first night. It is a riot to have 5 grand babies running around and gave us a glimpse as to what it will be like in Italy! We wouldn't have it any other way!

Grandma bought matching PJ's-they were a little distracted by the new 3D projector Papa has put in!

I love this picture of my little man. If your wondering, this is how he always is! HAPPY!

Okay maybe not at this moment...Poor guy!

After that evening my babies were tired (as always-I keep them on a tight schedule so they are not flexible! I am okay with this because it works well when we are home)! The next day we played at home and hit up Target. That night it was off to Rigazzis-a family favorite! It was Millie's 6th birthday celebration!

Starting this Tuesday I am teaching swim lessons at a local pool here. So I figured I should practice with Avery! I have never been so impressed-Okay a little exaggerated due to the other amazing things she does-but she was so comfortable in the water. She puts her face in, jumps off the side of the pool and floats on her back! Mack loved the feel on his legs and watched the other kids playing.

I don't have pictures, but this momma got some time too! I got an amazing mani and pedi and got to got to opening day with my parents. The kids had a sleep over at Brent and Sarah's house-I am so thankful and know how busy it must have been! Thank you!

Then the week finished off with Millie's birthday party at the City Museum in St. Louis. If you have not been there...you should! It was incredible! My two were a little too young for it and it was very over stimulating for them, but below are a few of them playing on the slides...

and Mack barfed right after this picture!!!!

I didn't dress right for this action!

"Oh wait let me have a snack!" Grandma (or as Avery says Ma'ma) had fun too!

Oh! I forgot to include our time at Forest Park. We were going to head to the Magic house, but decided that would be a lot to try to do in one day (the Museum was that night). So we made a picnic and headed out. It was really cold so Mack was not dressed right, but it made for some amazing pictures!

LOVE THIS!!!

At first it sounded like he was crying, but it was him laughing really hard!

Lucie is such a great cousin!

This was Papa and Avery heading down the hallway. I thought it was so cute! They walk the same!

I am thankful to live so close to my family and wish we could have this time everyday, but for now, we will just have to invade their house and take over! Thank you for all the fun memories Crittenden family! The Watsons Love you!!!!!