Touch a Truck 2011

We attended Touch-A-Truck in downtown Kennesaw a couple of Saturdays ago. We had been talking about seeing all the big trucks for days so Charlie was excited to go. We got there a little later than we had wanted to so the lines were long but I don't think it would have mattered. This seems to be a big event for all the kids in town. By far, Charlie's favorite thing was that he got to get on a big yellow school bus! (Well, it was a short bus but we won't tell him that.) :) It was a chore to convince him to get off. And, he later had to make a second visit.

Charlie's other favorite things...

Philip was a champ during the event. He just rode in his stroller and enjoyed the scenery. Well, as long as he didn't see his mama, he was fine. But then, I found his new favorite thing...

We took Charlie to see the cement truck. Wouldn't get near it. We took him to see the BIG bulldozer. Wouldn't get near it. We took Charlie to see the little bulldozer. He only got on because he thought Daniel was getting on with him...so he cried when Daniel didn't climb up. We tried him on the backhoe...same thing as the bulldozer. Hmm...we thought. But, to our surprise, Charlie later wanted to go back to the little bulldozer and decided he could do it on his own. This led to another visit to the backhoe. He enjoyed it this time around...

The other highlight for Charlie was watching the garbage trucks that have the extend-a-arm. I'm posting a video of it because Charlie will watch it over and over here on my blog.

There were all kinds of trucks. I would say big ones and small ones but they were pretty much all big ones! The police car and bug busters cars I guess would qualify as small. Here are pictures of other trucks we saw.And, as at any downtown Kennesaw event, the train went by...

first cheerios

I recently starting giving Philip some Cheerios. I think I did it one day to see if it would get him to quit screaming while I finished fixing his lunch. I didn't just think, "Oh, Philip should try some Cheerios." Yeah, second child. Things like this keep happening. He had a little trouble with it at first as all little ones do but has finally figured out how to get them in his mouth...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

oh the joy of having boys...

Mini Meatball Sandies

Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup finely crushed corn cereal (recommended: Corn Flakes)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon ketchup, plus more for serving
• 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 pound (4 ounces) 96 percent lean ground beef
• 12 (2 1/2-inch-diameter) sweet dinner rolls, halved (recommended: King's Hawaiian)

Directions:
Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together the cereal, parsley, egg, oil, 1 tablespoon ketchup, cheese, salt, and pepper. Add the ground beef and gently stir to combine. With damp hands, roll the mixture into 12 mini meatballs. Arrange the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes Cool for 10 minutes.
Make an indentation in the center of the bottom half of a roll. Slice a meatball in half and put in the indentation. Add about 1 teaspoon of ketchup to the meatballs and cover with the top half of the roll. Repeat with the remaining rolls and filling.

Recipe from http://www.foodnetwork.com/


I used bread crumbs instead of crushed corn flakes and parm cheese instead of Romano so just use what you've got in the house and eat 'um up! Warning: This got me addicted to King's Hawaiian Rolls...they are so yummy! I was eating ham and cheese sandwiches on them too - like a Krystal only much better tasting. :)

Easy Chicken-Mushroom Quesadillas

Yes, I know you are looking for pics/posts of the boys but I recently have found some great recipes that I wanted to share. Try them! I only post the ones we love!

Easy Chicken-Mushroom Quesadillas

TOTAL TIME: 28 min
Prep: 12 min
Cook: 16 min
YIELD: 4 servings

Ingredients:
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
• 8 ounces white button mushrooms, (about 3 cups)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups cooked chopped skinless, boneless chicken breast (1 breast half)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cups baby spinach leaves, sliced into ribbons
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 4 (10-inch) whole-grain flour tortillas
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese mix or Cheddar
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook until the mushroom water is evaporated and they begin to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add chicken, cumin, chili powder and oregano and stir until all spices are incorporated. Add spinach, salt and pepper and cook until spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.

Lay 1 tortilla on a flat work surface and sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Spoon 1/2 chicken and vegetable mixture on top of cheese, then top with an additional 1/4 cup cheese. Top with another flour tortilla. Heat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray over medium heat. Carefully place 1 quesadilla in pan and cook 3 minutes. Using a large spatula, gently flip quesadilla and cook an additional 3 minutes until lightly browned and cheese is melted. Repeat with second quesadilla. Slice each quesadilla into quarters. Place 2 quarters on a plate with 1 tablespoon sour cream and 2 tablespoons salsa.

Recipe from www.cookingchanneltv.com.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes

Ingredients:
Vegetable cooking spray
2 cups dried bread crumbs, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
8 ounces ground turkey or chicken, preferably dark meat
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
8 ounces small pasta, such as pennette, shells, or elbows
2 cups grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups grated white Cheddar
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 cups chopped broccoli, blanched,* see Cook's Note
1 pound asparagus, cut into 3/4-inch pieces, blanched

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 (12-cup) muffin or cupcake pans with vegetable cooking spray. Using 1 cup of the bread crumbs, coat the inside of each muffin cup with bread crumbs, shaking off any excess.

In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground turkey or chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Cook, stirring frequently, until cooked through, about 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside and cover to keep warm.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and add to a large bowl. Stir in the cooked turkey and the cheeses. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon the prepared pasta mixture into the cupcake molds, filling evenly to about 2/3 full. Arrange a few pieces of tomato, broccoli and asparagus into each cup. Top with a thin layer of the remaining bread crumbs and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and carefully unmold with a spoon onto a serving platter.

*Cook's Note: To blanch vegetables, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until very crisp. Using a small strainer, remove the vegetables and immediately plunge into a bowl of iced water. Drain and use.

Recipe from www.foodnetwork.com.

sippy cup

While in AL a couple of weeks ago, I gave Philip a sippy cup for the first time. He is a lover of cups and can drink a little out of a regular cup so I decided it was time. While at my inlaws, we tried him on a regular sippy cup but he didn't understand that you have to suck on it to get anything out. He just wanted to play with it and got mad. I bought him one with a soft nipple on it and he's progressing with it. Philip will gnaw on it a good deal but is still having trouble understanding that you have to turn it up. I fill it pretty full so that if he tilts it just a little, he will get something out. Charlie's been trying to help him out too and is always saying that Philip needs something to drink. Anyway, here are a few pictures of his first sippy cup at my parents' house...

This one needs the caption - "You gotta be kidding me!"

Philip - 7 months old

Philip has turned 7 months old. It just went right past me almost before I realized it. That is the reason for this post being a week late. However, Philip has nonetheless continued to get cuter, fatter, and happier. Well, he's showing his happiness now...many squeals, laughs, feet kicks, etc. You know Philip is content and happy when those feet are kicking, especially the left one. That little left foot just goes up and down when riding in a stroller, eating a meal, or just sitting in your lap. Philip is such a joy in our lives. I still love to squeeze him because you just can't resist him. Those little cheeks beg for kisses! I hope it's always that way. :)

Everyone talks about how good of a baby he is. And, they're right! He's so easy-going and content most of the time. Philip has become a mama's boy though. He's going through that stage where if he sees me, he's unhappy until I hold him or give him my undivided attention. I love it but it's exhausting! He can be screaming and pitching a fit and the minute I pick him up, he turns it off immediately, grabs two handfuls of hair and pushes his face into me with that thumb going into his mouth. Yes, he's still a thumb sucker and yes, he's just like his brother in that he loves hair. I guess most babies do but it seems to be excessive with my two. Charlie has given it up but Philip has taken his place.

Philip has developed a schedule for most days. He's usually up around 7:30 or 8:00 for his first meal. Breakfast is usually around 9:00 or 9:30. Naptime begins at 10:30 or 11:00 with a feeding beforehand. Lunch is around 12:30. Then, naptime begins again around 2:00 with a feeding beforehand. His afternoon snack is around 4:30 or 5:00. Dinner at 6:30. Last feeding at 7:30 or 8:00 and he's down for the night by then. He's sleeping for about 12 hours at night and an hour and a half or two hours at naptime when possible. Some mornings, he just catnaps due to dropping off and picking up Charlie from school. Breakfast is a fruit and some cereal (oatmeal, rice cereal, etc.). Lunch is a fruit and a veggie. Dinner is all three components. He eats every bite! So, eating is not a problem for this boy! :) He's learned what a bottle is and if he spots one, it's eating time whether it's got milk in it or not. He just about won't give up the bottle when it's empty either. I have to hide them when he's done or he's after it. That's funny to me because he rarely gets fed through a bottle.

Philip is sitting up quite well now. If he's occupied, he can sit for long periods of time. He's also learning how to roll towards something he wants. You'll see his feet start to move if he's lying on his belly and can't reach something so we'll see how long it it before he figures out how to crawl or slide to that object.

One of his favorite toys is his linkadoos or rings as we call them. But, Charlie is by far his favorite entertainment! Tonight, Charlie would stand in the kitchen and slowly walk toward Philip saying, "I'm gonna tickle you!" When Charlie would reach Philip and tickle him, Philip would just cackle. He got to where he would cackle before Charlie even got to him. Daniel and I just grinned watching them. Charlie is a great big brother. He does show some signs of jealousy sometimes but what big brother wouldn't? He is so good to take care of Philip especially when he's crying. You'll hear Charlie say, "It's alright, Philip." or "You're ok, Philip." So sweet! He brings him toys when he's on the floor to play or in his high chair to eat. Charlie is the first to make sure Philip has a toy to play with in the car and gets upset when Philip drops it.

Well, I think that about covers it. I know most of you just want to see pictures so here you go. I also got a little video of Philip today talking and blowing raspberries. He was in such a good mood that I just couldn't pass it up! Enjoy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

The Greatest Show on Earth...

Some friends of ours, the Johnsons, invited us to join them at the Ringling Bros./Barnum & Bailey Circus at Philips Arena on Saturday, Feb. 19th. This was Charlie's first time at the circus and was, obviously, Philip's first time as well.

As the show began, Charlie's face just lit up! He was so excited over all the things he saw...especially the elephants.He clapped along when prompted. He was amazed at the guys turning flips in the air! Charlie loved seeing the tigers! And, he was enamored when the motorcycles came out! I'll have to say that Daniel and I were quite impressed too at getting 7 guys on motorcycles in that sphere.

Charlie was also quite excited to go to the circus with his friend, Alex. Becky and I had such fun watching these two. They made the night so much more exciting to view the circus through our boys' eyes.

Philip, however, could have done without the circus. He had his dinner but was then ready to go to bed. All the sounds and lights, etc., just made it hard for him to relax and go to sleep so he fought it a long time. This meant that I was up bouncing and pacing for a while. Luckily, I had taken my ABC carrier with me. It was a life saver. Once I put him in that and blocked out some of the light, he finally went to sleep. So, I didn't get to just sit and enjoy the show but we were in Matt's company's suite so it wasn't a problem. And, yes, we are now spoiled to the suite and don't really want to ever go back to the general public seats. :) I also didn't get to take many pictures but here are a few of the ones I/Daniel got...

And, since Charlie loves to watch videos on my blog, I'm adding in the video of the elephants...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com