Ski Trips and Sick Kids February 20, 2016

Last weekend Bo and I celebrated our Valentine's Day in Colorado at Copper Mountain. Bo usually tries to make it out to ski each year, and this was the first year that I had a yearning to ski as well. This being my fourth time out...and by far the most enjoyable experience...I'm ready to make plans for next year! 

We took Garrity when she was three and she loved it! We used a ski harness and found the most pleasure in me just guiding her between my skis! It was super fun! I can't wait to take both kiddos out next spring! 

Copper Mountain is a nice and easy place to ski. It's not too commercial.

It's always nice and relaxing to get away for a few days...but it's even better to get back home and snuggle the G's! 

This trip was no exception...however upon our return, Grantham was sick with the stomach flu, a respiratory bug, and he was teething to top it all off! The entire last week I juggled work and staying home with him, even Bo had to take some time off with him! The antibiotic kicked in pretty fast on Thursday and we are on the mend this week! 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Grantham

Two years ago today, I met the most perfectly sweet little guy! Today we celebrated with a donut party complete with a little tikes basketball goal, Mickey Mouse clubhouse, lots ofbMickey accessories, and a couple of adorable little Mickey tees! We had everything set up so that when the birthday boy came padding down the hall, calling for mamma, we were able to jump right into birthday fun! 

For lunch we celebrated at The White Grill! Hotdogs, I've and suzi's! 

Next stop was Radio Springs Park!

We had fun with cousins to round out a wonderful day of fun! Now to try to squeeze in a couple of hours of sleep before The Birthday Party tomorrow🎉

Happy Birthday sweet boy, you are loved❤️

Grantham 3/3/16

Before becoming a mommy of two kiddos, people would always claim that each child is different. While there is truth in comments such as those...I've found that, while different, our two kiddos are somewhat similar in nature and in hitting milestones. That being said, Garrity was speaking in full sentences when she was almost two. Grantham has spoken full sentences...but more often than not, he is either pretty quiet or spouts out strings of words: "mama, dada, sissy, coco, Gowah, Pat, mama, dada, dada, dada, dandum, mama" you get the picture. The other day he caught me off guard and said " Ah be righ ba mama." I'll be right back, mama....it melted my heart! 

Other differences, but similarities, bed time; Grantham wants books-almost the exact same lineup as Garrity, and he also wants milk and mama as well. Garrity still follows the same strict bedtime regime. I am 150% an attachment mama and I am 150% proud to be part of that frowned-upon group of fierce-loving mamas! 

Where Are We Now?

 Here we are now, one month out from out from Grantham turning TWO and Garrity turning SIX?! Our life is starting to finally fall into step. We have a schedule of sorts (we will never be rigidly scheduled humans) but we have a wonderfully balanced way of doing things. We are so close to spring break, and we are setting up a few fun things for the week. 

One of my great pleasures in life is party planning and we are in full party planning mode! Grantham has requested a Micky Mouse party and Garrity is going with a Scooby Doo party complete with the same bounce house from last year. 

Short and sweet. More to come on Grantham at 23 months and Miss G at almost six!

GARRITY AND MOMMY'S BEST TURKEY RECIPE EVER --Thanksgiving Eve 2013 (Not sure why I never posted this?)

*** Not sure why I never posted this! I've used the recipe every single year since!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Our favorite...making the star of the Thanksgiving Show: THE TURKEY x 2 this year!!!!

Grandma provided the turkeys! You and I cooked the turkeys! Below is a photo of the brining mixture!

Your favorite shown right now is The Pioneer Woman (The Cooker Show). So we decided to make our version of that brining recipe!

• My variation of The Pioneer Woman's turkey brine:
• In a brining bag I combined the following:
• 3 cups apple cider ( 1/2 gallon from the produce section at Wall-Mart)
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup kosher salt ( I used iodized table salt)
• 3 tablespoons tricolor peppercorns ( I ground mine)
• 5 whole bay leaves (fresh)
•  I used 5 x 1/2 t from a jar of minced garlic...1/2 t equals a clove if you wish to mince fresh garlic.
•  I used five little cuties...I peeled them over the bowl and pitched the peels in the brining mixture, and then quartered the little cuties and tossed them in as well.
• 4 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves stripped off
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I couldn't locate brining bags at Wal-Mart, so I used Ziplock XXL bags (triple bagged to protect my fridge)

I put the ingredients into a large pan and brought to a boil. I removed the mixture from the heat and added two gallons of ice water.

I rinsed the turkey and removed the neck and little bag of goodies. Next, I put the turkey and brining mix in the bag, and placed the bag in the fridge overnight...or 9-10 hours.

You're asleep in our bed. I laid down to cuddle with you and baby Bingo has the hiccups!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING MORNING!

The turkey soaked all night, and when I woke up I remove she turkeys and disposed of the brining mixture.

I used a googled various methods of preparation methods and combined several..The Pioneer Woman's, A couple variations of "The Worlds Best Turkey Recipe" as well as a traditional turkey recipe...this is what I came up with.

I rinsed the turkey and placed it in a large roaster. 

I combined: 

• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 4 sprigs of chopped fresh rosemary
• The zest of one little cutie

I combined the mixture with a fork and smooshed  the concoction under the skin of the turkey.

2 large Granny Smith Apples

1 large onion 

I quartered two Granny Smith Apples and   1 half of a large onion; and stuffed them into the cavity of the bird.

Finally I placed the bird in the large roaster and poured an entire bottle of champagne inside and on top of the bird.

• 
  

I put the bird in a Reynolds turkey baking bag...and then took it out for fear of cooking something in plastic :/ 

***Bird was not cooked in a bag! I used tin foil only!

In my convection oven:

I preheated the oven (on speed bake)  to 300. I cooked the bird at 300 for 2 hours and 37 minutes.

I then took the bird out and tested the temp with a poultry thermometer...it registered about 150 at that point. So, I put another layer of tin foil over the existing layer and popped it back in the oven for another 1.5 hours at 400.

This is the end result:

The reviews were incredible! EVERYONE raved!!! Even people who are non- turkey people, LOVED this turkey!!!

Garrity-Lou-Who...and Santa

This Christmas was undoubtedly one that will forever live vividly in our hearts and minds! For some time now, Bo and I have been planning a Holiday Disney Cruise! This was to be the BIG present for the G's and a gift from us to them.

IF I had a rewind button, I would rewind and press play right about the week before break. Garrity participated in Grinch Day at school and that morning started off especially magical as the entire family gathered in Garrity's bathroom to watch me magically transform her from Garrity to Garrity-Lou-Who with the help of some florist foam and some florist pins! She looked AMAZING! (Even last night at PTO the officers and teachers were discussing her hair?!) That was the night that Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit! It was such a wonderfully magical moment in our lives! Candice Moore came by for a visit and SANTA ended up stopping by just after she arrived! The G's were both mesmerized and nearly speechless! Garrity sat on Santa's lap for the first time EVER and she whispered in his ear the special gifts she'd like for her family :)

Even weeks later, if you ask Grantham about Santa... he says, "choo-choo." Santa brought Grantham a choo-choo train and Garrett a little fringe purse :)

Valentines Day 2016

I'm sitting here at the desk with a little 28 lb nugget of adorableness on my lap. Grantham is speaking in full sentences now... albeit mostly in an unknown tongue... but sentences nonetheless :) He has two band-aids on his index fibers and he is saying things like: hurt, owe-hurt, and Coco bark! Daddy just came back from getting donuts and now Grantham's saying, "donut." My all time favorite thing that Grantham says at this age is, "UH-HUH." Which is exactly his reply when Daddy asked if he'd like a donut.

We are supposed to be on our way to church right now... but Grantham's been sick all week with an ear infection, cough, and the stomach bug. So we are hunkered down at home to celebrate Valentines Day and have our own little Bible lesson.

The Valentine fairy... aka: ME... went to WalMart last night after everyone was tucked in bed, and bought little Valentines surprises for everyone: Inside Out movie for the van, the Joy console for G and a glow football for Grantham. The football was not a hit...I feel bad for not getting him a little toy. I will for sure take it back and get something more age-appropriate.

---Crying kids--- This may be as good as it gets for this post. :) 

Garrity and Grantham's FIRST Sleepover Guest

This week cousin Baylor and cousin Callan have spent the week with Grandma Madelyn. We decided last night that a sleepover would sufficiently add to our Christmas celebration! Cousin Baylor was totally on board!
The night was full of fun! We had late night snacks, a Christmas book-Elf on the Shelf... twice, and lots of giggling! The girls fell asleep easily and slept soundly the entire night! 7:11 AM and the sleepover was an official success! The girls tumbled out of bed and into the living room! Baylor's elf, Peter, and our elf, Snowflake had strung up a little repelling fun in our living room and the girls were ecstatic!

Grantham 5 months 17 days/Long Sleeve Weather

You are literally changing daily! This morning while I was getting ready for work, you were strolling/banging around the living room in your walker and the next thing I notice...is YOU! You had managed to toddle yourself into the doorway where I was getting ready! Our master bath is still under construction, so your bathroom is the only fully functional bathroom in the house. Garrity's is nearly done, but only the tub is functioning.

The weather has changed in the last two days and the days are cool! Yesterday I dressed you in a sleeveless romper with a fish on the side and Garrity in a sleeveless red and white striped number with denim shorts!? Today I opted for more weather friendly options and hopefully you two will be more comfy.

Last night your 6-12 month clothes arrived from J. Crew! Three little long sleeve onesies and one short sleeved onesie emblazoned with the phrase: THERE IS ONLY ONE. I knew when I saw it, I had to have it for you :)

Tonight is a home football game. Garrity loves the games (loves to socialize) so hopefully we will be able to enjoy the evening without foul weather...last weekend we tried to attend the game but never made it to our seat due to the threatening clouds in the west.

Life is good, you are sweet, and we love you so so much!

February 25/2015 - Grantham - 11 months

Eleven months...how is that possible? A year ago, we were just returning from state swim, and I felt like a baby boy would join our family at any moment! I might add that I was in fact STILL running too :) Fast forward to today. You are the fastest little walker in the world! You almost run! You have also learned, or are doing/saying the following:

Now that you've mastered how to walk/run, you are interested more in going UP! You crawl all over a Little Tikes table in the family room, and you love the Little Tikes slide! You've fallen many times, and only scream for a few seconds and gently place your little head on my shoulder, and after a few moments of cuddles with mommy, you're off again...ready for more adventure!

You're saying: Mamma, Dadda, What's that (DAT...DAT...DAT...accompanied with a pointing finger), you're still working on Thank You, but you totally say it and have the proper inflection as well! You're saying Dog, and kind of saying Cat...but not really just yet. You also like to mimic when we do the Sally; Uh Uh UHHHH...it's pretty cute.

We finally got the high chair on Valentines Day and you're getting more used to spending time in the chair. You love to feed yourself. You like to eat bananas, baby cookies, baby food- chicken noodles, you adore the little squeezable apple sauce and the raspberry banana yogurt, you love to hold them and you basically suck them dry and then throw the empty container to the ground and scream out for more!

You still sleep a few hours alone and then come to cuddle with me the rest of the night (which I love, of course).

You're still hovering around 21-22 pounds and we're holding out for a solid 22 lbs prior to switching you out of your rear facing car seat with the handle and base.

You love to clap and then make sure everyone else is clapping along with you for you!

You have also recently started fake-laughing when everyone else is laughing...you even bend over and slap your legs...it's beyond adorable!

You love bath time, and you balls! You love to play on your Thomas Train from Gowah and Grandma Pat, and you absolutely adore Garrity!

I am now preparing for your birthday! Such a wonderful first year with you in our lives! We all love you more than you can ever imagine...and then some :)

The Golf House Interior - BEFORE