From Miracles to Motherhood and Moving

I have something to share... the friend that I said was pregnant a few weeks ago has started her own blog! So, you all get to read about her pregnancy journey yourselves instead of bits and pieces from me. Go check it out: From Miracles to Motherhood.

Today was mostly spent lounging around. I was supposed to baby-sit Xavier this morning but she never brought him. No phone call either. It's not the first time that's happened. Ya know, I could be baby-sitting someone else's child full-time, and getting paid $150/week or more. Instead, I try to help a family member out by baby-sitting their kid for free while they get on their feet and... I'm just really frustrated. I have to stop this rant here, otherwise the whole mommy-bloggish theme I have going on here might go out the window.

Anyway. Here's a few pictures from today.

I was being lazy, and the girls took advantage of that and climbed all over me this morning.



When I finished my coffee (mixed with hot chocolate), I set the thermos down on the floor and Camryn got a hold of it.


I sure am going to miss that big sink when we move.

Speaking of moving, we need to move soon because my family needs to sell my Grandmother's house, which we are currently renting. I want to go ahead and get it over with. We're currently trying to decide whether we want to 1. buy a house now that is not quite what we want, or 2. wait on buying a house for a year or two once Joe gets a few more raises and I'm bringing some money in, and then get something nicer that we really like.

If we don't buy a house now, we'll either try to rent a house in this area or rent a townhouse in a complex that is close to here. I am totally torn on what to do.

That's all for tonight. I hope you all had a great weekend!

Bows, Basketball, and Birthdays

Yesterday I got my Lil' Booger Bows in the mail! Summer wore one yesterday, she looked so adorable. I took a few pictures but her eye was bothering her, so it's squinted in every single one. That's the biggest problem we're having with her eye at the moment. Because of the way the tear was, and the way it was stitched, her pupil is bigger than normal and let's a lot of light in, so sunlight and bright lights bother her quite a bit.

I guess now would be a good time for an eye update, since I don't think I told you guys what the doctor said at her last appointment. (If you're new around here and don't know what happened, you can read about it HERE.) On Monday, I'll be scheduling a time for her to have her stitches removed. That will probably be in 4 weeks or so. At that time, they're also going to do an in-depth exam to make sure everything is healed and there is no further trauma that they missed. After that, more eye drops. UGH. You all know how that went before. Not looking forward to it at all. Then, a few months later, once it is healed completely, we will get her glasses to wear and also begin putting a patch over her good eye for an hour or so a day, to strengthen the injured eye. We'll have to do that for quite awhile, but in the end it will be worth it because her "bad" eye will end up with decent vision.

Yesterday evening, we went to my brother's basketball game. It was a great game. They played so well, but ended up losing by 2 points I believe. My brother found out after the game that he was chosen by his coach for the All-Tournament Team, which is an honorary team that consists of the best player from each team during this particular tournament. I am so proud of him!

Yesterday was my brother's best friend/mom's best friend's son Jordan's 18th birthday. He's on the basketball team too, so after the game we all went to their house for dinner and cake and ice cream. We had a really nice time and didn't end up leaving until almost midnight. Summer and Camryn had a lot of fun entertaining everyone so they didn't seem to get sleepy until it was time to leave.

Anyway, about those bows... this morning they were all over the counter and I didn't know where to put them, so I decided to make a hair bow holder. I got out some ribbon, a wooden dowel, and a glue gun, and made this:




It turned out pretty well if I do say so myself :-)

Xavier is here and currently "playing" with Summer and Camryn.

Joe is asleep on the bed, he and Wes played Gears of War 2 all night. I'm drinking coffee and watching HGTV. I don't know what we're doing the rest of the day. I need to go to the store and get a few things for the diaper cake I'm working on, so my goal for the day is to get that finished. Have a great Saturday!

Happy Friday!

**UPDATE: Thanks to Crystal, I made an html box to make it easy to copy my site button. Go on, you know you want to copy it ;-)**

** I added my button for Summer Grace Baby Cakes to my sidebar. Some of you have requested one to put on your own blogs, which I appreciate so much! So, feel free to steal it. I'm trying to figure out how to add a box under it with the html so it's easy to copy/paste, but I'm not having much luck. If you know how to do that, let me know!**

We had the best dinner last night. I was too hungry to take a picture of it so I'll just tell you... we had mashed potatoes, a huge salad, and Chicken Julienne. I found the recipe searching for something to do with my chicken with ingredients I already had. You all have to make this, it was delicious.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 dash paprika, for garnish

1. Place the butter and flour in separate shallow dishes. Dredge the chicken strips first in the flour, coating evenly, and then in the butter. Place chicken in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add salt, and pepper, to taste. Pour the heavy cream over the chicken. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese, and paprika.
2. Bake in preheated oven until cheese melts and cream bubbles, about 20 minutes.

After reading some of the reviews on the website, I substituted the cream with a can of cream of mushroom, and I also added 2 cloves of minced garlic on top of the chicken. Joe and the girls loved it, I think this is something I'll be making often.

I was going to be watching Xavier today, but Nicole just called and said they called her and told her they over-loaded the schedule and to just stay home today. I'll probably be watching him tonight though, while they go to the boat (Horseshoe Casino) for a little while.

My friend Jillia is going to come over soon. She works a lot so I don't see her much, so that should be nice. Although, she just broke up with her boyfriend and seems to be fitting the "psycho ex" role quite nicely right now, so I'll probably spend most of the day convincing her not to let the air out of his tires like I had to do last week.

I sold my very first diaper cake yesterday! A friend of mine, Ken, has a friend from high school that is having a baby. He bought the animal cake. He also bought a custom cake, and requested that I make it out of Depends, as a joke for a friend of his. I'll definitely be taking a picture of that once it's finished!

I'd better end this now before I start to ramble. Have a great day!

The time has come...

Click here to enter my new website!!

Big day today

Yesterday was a great day. I was supposed to watch Xavier at 9 but Nicole had a last minute schedule change so I got to go to my moms and watch the inauguration on her awesome flatscreen. Here's Summer, watching a huge moment in history:




I found this winter suit thing in their closet. I don't have a clue where we got it but it fits Camryn perfectly!



In the evening, my cousins, Katherine and Libby, came over to visit.




Xavier eventually passed out on my bed while I folded laundry.


Today, I am patiently impatiently waiting for two huge things: my website templete to be installed by the web designer and a big document release in the Caylee Anthony case. I'll definitely be back later, to give you all the first glimpse of the site, when it's ready!

For You

A few months ago, Summer or Camryn broke a coaster at my parents' house. The coaster was attached to felt, so it stayed somewhat intact.

Today, I sat with my kids, mom, and aunt, and watched our new President get sworn in and make a truly impressive and inspirational speech.

As I stood to gather our things to go home, I glanced down at the coffee table. For the first time, I noticed the coaster and the cracks that were formed when it broke.



What a sign to see, on a day like today!

I'd like to encourage everyone, whether you are Republican or Democrat, black, white, red, purple, yellow, or green, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu... Let us all celebrate the idea of Peace.

Snow! Part 2

We took Summer and Camryn out to play in the snow today. We took them out in the snow once last year but Summer was too little to remember and Camryn was an infant, so this time was different. They both loved it. Camryn walked around, making footprints, and Summer spent the whole time running around shoving it in her mouth. I guess to a small child, having something "edible" fall from the sky and cover the ground is very exciting. She also immediately plopped down and made a snow angel.











After we played outside, I had to go to the grocery store. Camryn was my shopping buddy. We went up to Kroger and loaded up. It was one of those grocery trips where you are out of everything so by the time you're done, you can barely push the cart.

It was 7 pm by the time we got the groceries put away, so for a quick dinner we cooked some frozen chicken strips, PastaRoni, and mixed vegetables. Not the healthiest of meals, but the girls enojyed it. I'm making bean soup tomorrow. I haven't made this kind before so hopefully it turns out. I have been so bad about cooking healthy, balanced meals every night ever since the holidays. I really need to get back to my dinner routine.

My SIL got a new job at a local restaraunt. Her first day is tomorrow, so I'll have Xavier starting at 9:30am. I'm excited, I've missed him lately!

I'm going to go wash my face and get into bed, before this Little People: Just Married show comes on, I've been wanting to watch it since the previews started airing. Goodnight!

Snow!

Finally some snow! I think we got 1-2 inches. Not a whole lot, but enough to play in!



If you click and enlarge the above picture of Camryn, you will see that the bottom of her top teeth look weird. I have discovered that she grinds her teeth together! I don't really know what to do about it. Good thing our dental insurance is about to be added to our health plan.

Silly Girls and Lil Boogers

Summer wanted to "take a smile". She says that instead of picture. Haha.

If you have a daughter who has hair, you need to head on over to Lil' Booger Bows. Audrey has been hard at work and will be adding quite a few totally adorable bows to her website tonight. I know I will be over there ordering some! Summer and Camryn hardly have any hair bows, which when I think about it is ridiculous. All little girls should have hair bows!

Sunday

And another..


I think I may have enough diapers to do one more.

If anyone knows how to ship diaper cakes without having everything on them fall off and get broken, I welcome your advice.

Today is a lazy Sunday, just the way I like them. Summer and Camryn are napping now, Joe is watching TV, and I'm working on the website.

It snowed for a little while this morning. We all got really excited, but it didn't stick so now it just looks like it rained. I'm mad, I really want Summer and Camryn to help us make a snowman!!!

I can't wait any longer.

I am still not quite ready to reveal ALL of what I've been up recently, but I can't wait any longer in sharing a bit of it with you because I'm so excited. Here's a really obvious hint:


And another...


Neither of those are finished products, due to my extreme exhaustion seeing as it is 2:25AM, but you get the idea.

I have started a diaper cake business! The website is still in the process of being created but as soon as it is finished, hopefully this coming Wednesday, I will have the big reveal.

I am truly so happy to share this with you all. I have wanted to do something like this for so long, and now I've finally taken the steps and done it!

Look what I made!

I made a new signature!!! Visit Kelly's blog for instructions. Thank you Kelly!