The time has come

The time has finally come to lower the mattress in Baby Grace's crib. We took it to the lowest setting today, I can't believe that she has really gotten that big. Even though shes going to have her first birthday in January it feels like we just brought her home from the hospital. She was such an itty bitty little thing, we actually had to get her a little preemie outfit while at the hospital so she wouldn't have to go home in just a onesie and her snowsuit. The newborn outfit that big sister Kylee had picked out was just huge on her. Can't believe that I'm feeling so nostalgic just moving the mattress down. Wonder what I'm going to be like when we turn her crib into a toddler bed.

Kylee also picked out the bedding for her crib, I felt it would help her to feel more involved when sister came. So little sister wouldn't end up with cowboys or cars or something else along those lines I actually found several that I liked and let her pick from the ones I likes. She picked out a very cute one by Baby Connection called "Lady Bug" it has lots of flowers and pastel colors, and little lady bugs. Every time Kyky looks at it shes says, "I picked that for her".

As of today Grace's first birthday is 76 days away. Kylee is already making plans for it, she thinks baby sister should have a princess party for her first one, with lots of pink and purple (kylees favorite colors). Sounds an awful lot like the birthday party that we had for Kyky in September.

Today is Halloween and Kyky is so excited to go to school that shes been wearing her backpack around the house. Shes like I'm ready to go mom, and its not even lunch time yet. She goes to afternoon kindergarten, shes a funny little princess. Yesterday I caught her explaining the intricacies of "Trick or Treating" to Grace. I tried to get it on video but she got embarrassed when I pulled out the camcorder, we will definitely get some footage of the festivities tonight.

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat

I'm horrible when it comes to candy, I love most of it. The only way I can keep from eating all the candy before the trick or treaters come to the door is to get something that I really don't like or just not buy any at all. This year I've been hearing a lot about "low-calorie" Halloween candy and did a little research. You can eat ..... and be OK (keeping in mind that I didn't mean the whole bag just a few of them)

Sugarless Gum, Bubble Gum, Twizzler Bites, Jelly Beans, Bit-O-Honey, Tootsie Rolls, Raisinets, Gumdrops, Skittles, Starburst, Piece of Taffy, Tootsie Roll Pops, Gummi Bears

10 Tricks I found online to help avoid the candy bucket

1. Buy Candy you don't like.
2. Savor one piece of your favorite candy a day.
3. Out of sight, out of mind.
4. Chew Gum
5. Replace the candy with fruit you like.
6. Move the candy bucket.
7. Count the empty wrappers.
8. Manage hunger.
10. Sip on a low cal beverage.

Haunted Houses

My brother sent this comic to me and I thought that it was pretty funny. Sad but funny.

I'm constantly on the look out for things to do on the weekends, and with money being so very tight things that are free or low cost. This is whats going on today...

STEMapalooza
Colorado Convention Center 700 14th St. Denver CO
denverconvention.com
Free

All Day Events All FREE
Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch 16002 E Smith Rd Aurora CO
auroragov.org

Halloween Costume Party
6:00PM
Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1750 30th Street Unit 22 Boulder
EastonBJJ.com
Free

Picnic at the Denver Zoo

We took the girls to the Denver Zoo yesterday for a picnic, ended up spending five hours there. I think the elephants and giraffes are our favorites. Sat and had turkey sandwiches by the seals, and watched the zoo workers bringing in tons of candy for the Boo at the Zoo. I felt bad for all the little kids that were dressed up for it yesterday and didn't get any candy. When we finally got home I could hardly walk the souls of me feet were hurting so bad. Glad we didn't have any other places to go or things to do last night, we just got to veg.

Feeling kinda beat up today, Baby G decided to get up early and has been up since. I'm hoping and praying that she will take a nap before the engagement party this afternoon. A friend of ours met a wonderful lady on the net and went to China to bring her home a few days ago. No, shes not a mail order bride. They have been friends for two years now, calling and chatting online and hes gone to china numerous times to visit her. Were so excited that they are finally going to be together in the same country. The engagement party is today and they are planning on getting married in a few weeks. We can't wait to meet her for the first time. Please baby G take a nap.

Chocolate and peanutbutter chip cookies

Kypy and I love to bake cookies when she gets home from school in the afternoon. They don't usually last more than a few days at our place because of all the cookie monsters. I have never tried using peanut butter chips in anything before so I was surprised when daddy brought home a bag of peanut butter chips and with the requested chocolate chips. I love peanut butter cups, I'm one of the weird people that takes a bite and holds it in my mouth just to savor the combination of peanut butter and chocolate melting together. I'm also known for pulling out the jar of peanut butter and dipping a Hershey bar into it and eating it. Another really tasty combo are red hot candies and Hershey kisses. Yumm!! Just makes the taste buds sing.

Kypy and I followed the recipe on the back of the Chocolate chip bag but instead of using the whole bag we did half and half chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, and instead of the tiny little cookies it suggests making in the instructions we made monster cookies and added cooking time. They were large and yummy!! We went to Great Grandmas for dinner yesterday evening and I was trying to get her to tell GGma about the cookies we had made. Shes like we made Great Big cookies and they were SOOOO YUUUMMMYYY. Just love that kid :o)

Orange Buttermilk Pancake Day

I ask this question so often that I'm surprised that my family doesn't respond to it before I ask it, "What do you want for breakfast?" Kylee asked for pancakes this morning, and I was more than happy to oblige. I make pancakes all the time so today I wanted to try out a new recipe on the fam. I found this supper yummy one, I know it will have an honored place in the recipe box.

Orange Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

1/2 Cups Orange Juice concentrate
1 C buttermilk or (1 cup regular milk with 1 Tablespoon lemon juice)
3 large eggs
2 Cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 Cups granulated sugar
5 tablespoons melted butter
vegetable oil, for pan

Combine all ingredients; beat until smooth. Coat griddle with oil and place over medium heat. Using about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake, pour onto the hot skillet. When bubbles appear over the top of the pancakes and eggs are beginning to look dry, turn and brown the other side lightly. Adjust heat as necessary to brown evenly.
Serves 4 to 6

The hubby and even the girls loved this one. Grace (9months old) doesn't usually get table food, but they were so light and fluffy I had to share a few itty bitty bites with the monkey, she loved it. Kylee even had seconds and thirds, I always love it when I find something that shes willing to eat. She can be a really picky eater sometimes.

Little Bo Peep and her sheep

My daughter has changed her mind umpteen times about what she wants to be for Halloween, first it was an ice cream cone (not sure where she got that idea), than a princess, and now little Bo peep; which I have to admit was my idea.

We were at the good will, when we happened to find a really fancy dress that would be perfect for Bo peep. I paid 2$ for the dress, and it just needs minimal repairs. I thought it would be cute if we dressed baby sister up like her sheep to go trick or treating. Now I just need to figure out Bo peeps sheep herding staff, and how to get baby sister to look like a sheep and not a dog.

In my quest to find Halloween costume ideas I also found some others that can be made super cheap or easily. My daughters Grandfather is a professional clown "Coconut" is his name, so I know he would be thrilled if the girls were clowns, he would love to give them a face and name.

All you need for a clown costume...Cutesy clothes or sweats that are too big. Decorate with fabric paint, or markers. Glue or sew on some large pop-poms, add a cheap wig, or silly hat, and make-up. You may also stuff the extra space in clothing with tissue.

Last week my daughters school had a dress like a scarecrow day. I was thinking that she might be one of three kids that would dress up in her class. Boy was I wrong, everyone was dressed up like a scarecrow it was the cutest thing ever. Glad I had my camera on hand to snap a shot of her with her friends. Scarecrow costumes are supper easy, here's how to do this one...

One large plaid shirt, faded blue jeans with patches, rope for belt and to tie at the cuffs of his jeans and sleeves, stuff the shirt and jeans with plastic grocery, or paper, a little bit of straw to hang out of jeans and shirt. Add a little bit of make-up. And you will have one cute scarecrow.

No matter what you or your kids go as for Halloween, take lots of pictures.

Crepes Rememberd

The fam and I were watching Saturday morning cartoons, when I raised the question "What do you want for breakfast?" We usually have pancakes or waffles or something along the easy to prepare meals. My hubby said, "Crepes" and I instantly had a flash back to my mom slaving over a hot stove, with strawberries in a bowl near by and how yummy they were to eat. So guess what we had, Crepes. Here's the recipe that we tried...

Basic Crepes Recipe

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Put everything into the blender wet things first, and pulse for two minutes. Might need to scrape sides once. Let set 1 hour so all the bubbles disappear.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.

3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.

I like them with strawberries in them, gently fold to resemble a loose burrito and lightly dust outside with powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream is fun. We have also tried canned cherry pie filling on the inside, also very yummy.

Long live Crepes.