Weekend at the cabin

We spent some time at our cabin in Michigan two weekends ago. The fall leaves are glorious up there but, of course, I didn't pull out my camera to photograph them. I did, however, pull it out to capture the kids playing in a pile of leaves that grandma raked for them. And what fall weekend in Michigan wouldn't be complete without blaze orange hats?!

One of the many reasons I love it here...

I wanted to wait until they were a lot closer, but I had to snap a picture of the balloons before I got distracted. They're one of the many reasons I love where I live. We get to watch the hot air balloons float past our house a couple of times each week and they come really close! Maybe someday I'll be up there...

17 weeks & First Day of School

Mason's first day of school (1st grade!)

Pregnancy Highlights: (I will post a picture soon...need to take one first!)

How Far Along: 17 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby is 5 inches long and the size of a turnip (huh?)
Total Weight Gain/Loss: I was down 2lbs at my last appt. and as of yesterday was back up to where I started. So I lost two and then gained two. :)
Maternity Clothes: Sometimes
Gender: Not finding out
Movement: Nothing certain yet
Sleep: I lose sleep because of Natalie and having to use the bathroom 57 times each night. And the dreams I have each night are CRAZY!
What I miss: Feeling good and having energy
Cravings: Random
Symptoms: Tired!
Best Moment this week: Hearing baby's heartbeat at my appointment yesterday

*Edited to add...
I wasn't able to find a picture taken around 17 weeks (other than the ones above) so here's a couple from around 20 weeks, I think.  Just so I remember...

 

14 weeks

I know myself...I most likely will not get around to starting a baby book for the newest little-to-be until he/she is at least 2 yrs. old. Natalie doesn't even have one yet and Mason's hasn't been tended to in years. A few bloggers are doing weekly posts on their pregnancies and I thought it was a great way to remember things. I'm still debating on whether or not I'll add a weekly picture. Maybe!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 14 Weeks
Size of baby: Baby is the size of a lemon
Total Weight Gain/Loss: At my last OB visit I was down 2 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: Yep!
Gender: Not finding out
Movement: Nothing certain yet
Sleep: I'm sleeping okay - I only lose sleep because of Natalie. And the dreams I have each night are CRAZY!
What I miss: Feeling good and having energy
Cravings: Random
Symptons: I still feel sick everyday, but it's getting better
Best Moment this week: First day of school!

Boating

This picture was taken in July while we were boating on Big Marine Lake. It was a beautiful day...until we drove all the way up to the lake, put the boat in and got out to the middle of the lake. The sun disappeared and it started raining! We decided to stick it out for awhile, jumped in the water and subsequently froze our tushies off.

We spent Labor Day on the St. Croix river with some friends. Docked in Prescott and had lunch at the Muddy Water cafe. The food was so good! Guess who remembered her camera but forgot to take it out? Grrr...

First day of school pics coming soon!

What have YOU done? (part 2)

I did this about 2yrs ago and thought it would be fun to go over it again. I've done more living!!

This is fun...If you copy the list, bold the ones that you've done yourself. Makes me realize how much more living I have to do!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie/commercial/tvshow
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Nothing new

Still feeling terrible. I haven't been off of the couch long enough to do anything/go anywhere so I have absolutely nothing to blog about. Instead, I'll leave you with two pictures Chad took with his phone last night.

P.S. I'm loving the cooler weather we've had! A/C is off, windows are open...my favorite season is on it's way. I love fall!

Toilets & Enchiladas

Lately I've been feeling like this:

No fun, especially when Chad's been out-of-town for a few days. The kids have been fending for themselves and the house shows it. Such a mess.

As soon as I'm feeling better, I'm going to make the Pioneer Woman's white chicken enchiladas.

Here is her recipe:


■2-½ cups Cooked, Shredded Chicken
■2 cups Reserved Broth From Chicken
■3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
■12 whole Corn Tortillas
■1 whole Large Onion, Diced
■3 whole 4 Oz Cans Whole Green Chilies, Diced
■1 whole Jalapeno, Seeded And Finely Diced
■1 teaspoon Paprika
■½ cups Heavy Cream
■2 Tablespoons Butter
■2 Tablespoons Flour
■1 cup Sour Cream
■2-½ cups Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
■Salt And Pepper, to taste
■Picante Sauce (optional)
■Cilantro, Chopped

Preparation Instructions

Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas for no longer than 20 seconds, just to soften (do not allow to become crisp.) Place tortillas on a large towel or stack of paper towels to drain.

Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in separate skillet over medium heat. Add onions and jalapenos and saute for 1 minute, just to start the cooking process. Add chicken, half of the green chilies, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Stir together. Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and stir. Add cream and stir, allowing mixture to bubble and get hot. Turn off heat and set aside.

In a separate large skillet, melt butter and sprinkle in flour. Whisk together and cook over medium heat for one minute. Pour in 1 1/2 cups chicken broth. Whisk together and cook for another minute or two. Stir in the other half of the chilies. Reduce heat, then stir in sour cream. Add 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Check seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.

To assemble, spoon chicken mixture on top of tortillas, one by one. Top with plenty of cheese and roll up. Place seam side down in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Pour cheese mixture all over the top of the tortillas. Top with extra cheese if you’d like, then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle generously with chopped cilantro.

Serve with picante sauce, if desired.

Well, look who decided to show up!

I've decided to resuscitate this baby. I spent a 1/2 hour reading old posts, from the very beginning to end and had to fight the urge to delete some things. What I realized, though, is that it was a great way to keep track of life, especially for the girl since she doesn't have a baby book yet...or ever.

My computer crashed last week (I'm going to loose all of my recent pictures - wah!) so I'm using Chad's work laptop. As soon as I get my computer back, I'll be able to start adding pics again.

Excuses, excuses...

Good lord, I'm lazy! I do think about this blog often, especially as I'm reading updates from other bloggers and seeing pictures of their cute kids and crafts that they make. However, that still has not motivated me to get crackin' on my own blog. Although, I suppose packing, moving, unpacking, and numerous out-of-town trips are all very valid excuses for not keeping it up.




Here's a picture of Hayley that I got in my inbox today:

I just love that sweet face. In just a few days I'll be able to squeeze her cheeks and tell her in-person how much I love her! (and try to convince her mom & dad to move to Minnesota)