IKEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness.

Have you heard the news??

Ikea is open in Kansas City.

Seriously, it's the best thing ever and I feel like I pinch myself every time I drive by it on the highway - which is quite frequently - realizing it's in KC to stay and we don't have to wait until we go on vacation to visit one and only limit ourselves to things we can carry back on the plane.

It's just so exciting!!

I was nervous to venture there in the first few weeks because there was SO much hype about it, I figured it would be so busy.  Like I even heard people were planning family reunions there.  Seriously?  I'm not sure if that's true - but at least I can confirm my family is not THAT crazy!

Maddie and I made a trip there on the last week before I went back to work full time and she slept and I had a blast.  She was bound to get hungry so I didn't make a full trip around the store...but headed right to the kids section with my mind already set on a few things to pick up.  Thank you for ikea for sending me the catalog in advance :)

So what did we pick up?

On the top of my list was this cool rug:

It's the perfect addition to our play room for under $15!  Charlie loves cars and tractors and all things with wheels these days so it is great and already getting lots of use!

Second on the list? This awesome table top paper roll holder and of course the paper roll.  I had the perfect DIY table in the basement ready for it to live.  And guess what?

It's Charlie approved which is the best part!

As for the table? I held off on the kids ikea table and chairs for now, since I whipped this up a while back.

All it is is a few cube shelves from target, and then 4 2x10 boards that are painted with chalkboard paint on top.  Thanks for Jimmy for messing up these boards that were originally supposed to go on our kitchen table he's building....because now they live here and are perfect!  And my sister for the idea to paint it with chalkboard paint!!

But the paper roll holder + paper was so cheap and I'm sure it will provide hours of fun!

We also got a potty from ikea to start the idea with Charlie (since all he does is complain about diapers) and I picked up some cinnamon rolls for Jimmy- that were gone in two days!

Overall- quite the success for our first trip to ikea.  I'm over the moon that we have one here!!!

Any other great finds that you like at IKEA!??

Pumpkin Patch fun

Again - let me say...the reason I have a blog is just how fun it is to look back and see how things change.  Like these 2.  So so crazy to think that this is what they looked like at the pumpkin patch in 2014...

Jack & Charlie - bffs for life

....and THIS is what they looked like just two years ago at 6 months and 2 months at the pumpkin patch in Gardner.  Time flies, kids grow up, but luckily parents stay friends!!

Last year....here they are at 14 months and 18 months too at Deanna Rose...

Emily did the stellar job of planning our outing this year and researching where the best pumpkin patch would be to visit.  Since Gardner one closed and last year we didn't want to pay extra money to go to the one in Deanna Rose last year, she found Kerby Farm in Bonner Springs, which is not too far from our houses so we headed out last Saturday morning.  

You would think it wouldn't be FREEZING the first weekend in October.  But it was.  Like so windy.

However, we braved the wind and the boys had a blast running around.  They had so many fun activities and Charlie and Jack are at a great age to enjoy all the stuff.  To name a few - they had a swing set, farm animals, a little place to ride bikes, an area to throw bean bags, lots of fun slides, some BIG construction tunnel things that they loved running through, a fun tractor ride (that Jack did - Charlie didn't) and a "spooky" house - which Charlie was obsessed with.  

Maddie was snuggled up next to me with a blanket over her in the Ergo sleeping the whole time, which was ideal - but then we had to pull them out for pictures.  And this is what we got!!

Finally a smile from Maddie!!! 

Then?  It was time for some family pictures.  Thanks Emily for some great ones despite the wind!!

Then I had to try to get one of Maddie similar to what we did with Charlie at this same age - Maddie is a month ahead of Charlie at these stages, since they are 23 months apart, but it is pretty fun to have them in the same month just two years apart and have all these comparison pictures!!

Of course, with one more kid in tow...we got NO adult pictures.  Which is a huge bummer because we never get pictures together, unless we are at weddings.  So next time - I'll just put Maddie in the stroller so I can actually take pictures of the adults too!!

It was so fun and what a fun tradition that was started 2 years ago with some great friends!!!!

Checking this off our "fall" list for sure!

Five Tested and Delicious Freezer meals

YEAH!  So this was my first FULL week back to work and Maddie's first FULL week at school and I would call that a success!  So happy Friday!

 

Join the link up too with Darci, April, Natasha and Christina. And be sure to check out their giveaway!! You could win some cool stuff!

Instead of random things - I'm going to post 5 of my favorite freezer meals that I have actually tried and are Carter house approved.  To be honest, I pin and pin and pin different freezer meals because I love to try new ones. But to be honest again, many of them are just plain gross and aren't even worth the effort that I put into them.  So here are a few of the recipes/links that are super easy and super delicious for ANY night of the week!

{ONE}

Source

I've mentioned this before on here, but I have to mention it again.  It's so easy and so delicious.  I actually threw this in the crock pot frozen this morning and then added frozen broccoli when I came home, popped some frozen brown rice in the microwave (and then hat broke...but that's another story) and seriously delicious dinner.

Plus Jimmy loves that it's not chicken...

{TWO}

Source

This was also on our menu this week.  And again - it's a hit.  Jimmy spices it up even more than I make it because I tone it down for Charlie and I.  But it's so good and so easy with just a little work the day/night of cooking to add the freshly cooked pasta and the dairy.

I made this quantity and split it in half and froze it and it's been plenty for us all to enjoy and even for Jimmy to take some for lunch.

{THREE}

Source

Pioneer Woman Chicken Spaghetti.

It's as good as it sounds. I usually make this amount and then split it before freezing because my little family doesn't eat that much and we are not good at leftovers.  But oh man - it's good!!

{FOUR}

Source

Hamburger patties can be expensive when you buy them at the store - but if you can get some hamburger at the store for $2.99 a pound, it's quite the treat.  So I usually like to have a few of these frozen to just pop on the grill, throw some frozen tater tots or french fries in the oven and wa - la!  A delicious meal or even something quick if you want to have some friends/family over!

{FIVE}

Finally - shredded chicken.  

I will tell you what.  This is a must have in our freezer.  Perfect for Mexican food (chicken quesadillas, chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas), a quick pasta dish (aka hamburger helper or a pasta side made meal), or to throw on a salad. 

All I do is take chicken breasts (ALWAYS wait until these are on sale at $1.79 or $1.99 a pound, which is at least once a month), throw them in the crock pot with some water and turn it on.  When they are done, I throw the cooked chicken breasts in my Kitchen Aid mixer, shred it up and throw them in quart size bags and first in the fridge until cold and then into the freezer.  

All five of these are literally life savers and SO delicious. So get to cooking!!!!!

Baby girl is 3 months old

My sweet three month old.  Seriously - where does the time go? 

Length:  I think just a little bigger than 24.25 inches

Weight:  14 lbs 2oz

Head: long and skinny like her dad

Maddie was three months old last Saturday (yes, I know that I said she was four months old in my last five on Friday post..oops.  #mombrain)

Milestones:

• Your smile and the look you give me just slays me. Girlfriend, you have me wrapped around your little finger!!!!
• Sleep is still doing great - you're in your room now and we are officially being lazy parents and still have you in the rock n play at night.  We get you in your crib every once and a while, but are working on it.  It's jsut so hard because you sleep so good - so I don't want to mess with it...but as we learned with your brother that once we all get used to something, it all has to change!
• Still rocking those size 2 diapers
• So you pretty much cannot fit into 3 month or most 3-6 month clothes.  Seriously - this makes me SO so sad.  Stop growing up so fast!
• Just like that, you skipped up to using 8 ounce bottles.  I took you to get weighed and based on how much you weigh and have grown, she suggested putting more than 4oz in your bottle.  And yep...now you take three, 5 ounce bottles per day and are using level 2 nipples.

Things you like:

• You love to eat and thank goodness are not having any issues going between breast and bottle.  That was a huge worry of mine, but you are rocking it as long as you get to eat!
• You love when people smile and laugh at you. You seem to mimic our faces.  When I smile, you smile.  When I laugh, you TRY to giggle!!!  You are getting SO SO close to all our giggling and we all cannot wait!
• Thankfully, you and your big brother are just the best of friends.  You stare at him constantly.  I cannot wait until he realizes that he's looking at you because he will be "funny" for you.
• You love the pacifier still - which is great!
• Bath time = happy time for us.  Even if you are screaming or so tired, the minute you get into that warm bath, you are all smiles.  I love it.  
• So I wouldn't say you "like" the car seat - but you don't scream bloody murder like you used to - so just one step at the time!
• when mom picks you up from school!!!!!  I love it too!!

Things you don't like:

• When no one pays attention to you!!  Ha!
• You're not a big fan of other people (family) members watching you at our house.  We have left you 4 times with other people - once for ZBB concert with Grana and GG, twice with Nana and Papa when we went to two weddings and once with Aunt Lulu and Casey.  You were pretty fussy and crying most of the night they say.  But guess what?  You seem to be happy with your teachers - so that's important!!

Special memories:

• First bath with your brother
• Trip to the pumpkin patch - it was a little (ok a LOT) windy and cold, but it was so fun to go as a family of four!
• Dinner with friends and hanging out with Jack Cindrich!
• Our first week ALONE - just the three of us in our house while dad was out of town for work.  We survived - it was interesting, but fun.
• The look on your face (smile!) when I go in to get you up in the morning.  So happy!
• I am missing our days together.  This month was so nice to transition back into work and school part time.  It was so nice to go one day and then the next get to sleep in and snuggle with you.  But such is life and we are making new sweet memories together!
• 
  

A note to our girl:

The "fourth trimester" has finally come to an end so they say.  You are not a "newborn" any longer and it's crazy to me.  Crazy to think of all the things you have done and how much you have grown and changed so far in these three months...but thinking about all the ways you will change and grow and what you will learn in the months to come.  It's funny doing this the second time around because the basic things are the same, but SO many things are different.  It's so fun to see you develop into your own little person with your personality.

While we had a blast living it up this month just the two of us, it finally had to come to a close right as you turned three months old.  You know, just the time we started to get in a good groove.  But already you have adapted to going to school and are doing so great.  You even got named "all-star baby" the other day.  Mom is so proud.

I was watching you sleep in your crib for a short stretch the other night just looking at you.  Wondering what kind of little girl you will be and so excited for all the fun things to come with you. What color will your hair be?  What will your voice sound like?  But also wondering what kind of little girl you will be - praying and hoping that as your parents we can help mold you into a sweet little girl that loves others and is kind and helpful and funny.  I know you will be all those things, sweet girl.  But in the mean time, I'm going to soak up every baby moment I can get and every baby snuggle and bath time you will give us.

Love,

Your parents

**************************************************************

Just for fun - some outtakes from the photo shoot and here is Charlie and Maddie's THREE month side by side picture.

Those lips...

Tummy time girlfriend.

Baby jeggings.....I love them.

Five on Friday again!

And it's FRIDAY and Five on Friday is back.  That's fun for many reasons - especially since it was my first week back at work!

Anyway, here are a few random things for you.

 

Join the link up too with Darci, April, Natasha and Christina.

{ONE}

Ok - so to rewind to last week because I just have to document this.

Last Monday, we started off the week with a band for a parents as teachers visit to assess both Maddie and Charlie.  Good news is that both kids are "normal" (whatever that might mean!!).  Bad news is...when the sweet old lady shows your two year old a picture book of a baby drinking water and asks him to tell her what the baby is doing and his answer is "Daddy drinks beer" - clearly stated four times - mom gets a little embarrassed.  I mean it was funny because, yes, Daddy does drink beer...just not the right setting to talk about it, Charlie.  We will work on that!

Such a goof ball he is!

{TWO}

So THIS Monday morning, we were all up early and off to KU MedWest for Charlie's first surgery.  Yep, the boy got tubes.  It was actually pretty crazy because we just had our consultation last Thursday morning (that took over a month to schedule) and then they said they could do the surgery that Monday.  Wowza.  Since it was my last day of maternity leave Monday, we went for it so neither of us had to take off work.

Charlie was a trooper - poor guy was NOT happy when he woke up from the surgery.  But once we left the hospital he was literally back to normal immediately.  I thought I might have gotten a FEW snuggles out of it - but nope, just wanted to run around!!

Before surgery with mom and dad.  Luckily, Maddie slept the whole time.  She's amazing.

Back to normal and playing with sister on mom's last day at home!! 

{THREE}

Maddie is growing up WAY too FAST.  She's thirteen weeks old today (4 months old tomorrow) and it doesn't seem possible.  From the bumbo to the bouncer to 6 month clothes...girlfriend doesn't seem like a baby anymore.

 

 

  

Good news is - she's had a good week at school!!  Slowly but surely it will become our routine and she will love it!!!

{FOUR}

Since this was my first week back at work (even though I didn't go Monday), full time pumping has commenced.  When I was part time, I was just trying to get away with pumping twice a day, but I felt like my supply was for sure dipping - so I've been going back to three times a day.  Actually doesn't take that long because the room I do it in is SO much closer than when I had to walk at my old job - so that's nice!!

One thing that was a fun surprise??  When your two year old slips some surprises in your pump back for you.  Oh Charlie!!  Just a few books and some "drum sticks" aka paint sticks.

{FIVE}

Finally - everyone is talking about FALL.  Oh yes, it's here.  The weather is cooperating now too and giving us some cooler temperatures.  Last week, Maddie and I decided to make a fun treat for some of our friends/neighbors, my sister and Charlie's class.  Just a little fall popcorn mix!!  It was fun to make (and eat) and even more fun to deliver as a surprise!!

Just a simple light bag of microwave popcorn, 2 squares of white almond bark and then throw in a few handfuls of fall colored M&Ms and some candy corn and that's it! 

Put it in a bag and throw the bag in a fun Halloween container from Wal-Mart...you have yourself a fun little gift!!   I also threw in some paint chip puzzles for Arden and Jack.  Charlie was not a huge fan and threw them all over, so maybe my friends 2 year olds liked them better??

It's sad to be back at work to not have time to do fun stuff like this!!

So excited for the weekend and hope you are too!  Cannot believe I have a THREE month old!