Picture Perfect

Last fall, I accomplished a goal of mine.  I had family pictures taken.  By a professional.  And it was just at terrifying as I thought it would be.

I've wanted to have pictures done since Princess was a baby.  And even more so once Handsome was born.  A few years ago, I had a friend of ours take pictures of us, but sadly, we live a few states away from each other now.  Finally, this November I took the plunge and scheduled a session.

Why am I so afraid to have our pictures made?  Well, for one, you have to to pay someone.  And there is no guarantee the kiddos will cooperate.  In fact, both kiddos will probably run in opposite directions and I will be forced to keep me cool in front of a stranger when I really want to yell and scream.  Not that I ever do that.  Then, after paying a nice photographer to take pictures of screaming children and feeling thoroughly embarrassed that I am responsible for raising them;  I'll have to have pictures printed for family, etc.  The photos will remind me forever how rotten my kiddos are and how I am failure at parenting.  Oh you think this sounds a bit extreme?

While this story has a bit more truth to it than I might care to admit, the photographer I chose is really talented and did capture a few precious images of my angels.  Even if they did run in opposite directions.

We had a lot of this going on.

And this:

But I did get a few precious ones:

(this was after a meltdown)

But I did get the coveted family photo:

 Isn't this typical?  A great picture of our backsides as we chase the kiddos....

Nevertheless, just before the sun dipped too low, we had success:

I'm not showing you the outtakes, there is too many and I don't have the patience to upload them.  I did find the whole ordeal a bit exhausting.  I had high hopes and the whole event didn't go quite as I planned.  Despite the lack of cooperation by my offspring, I am pleased with the results and I am eager to try again.  I'm not sure what really took so long for me to do this.  Perhaps simply the fear of the unknown?

All photos take by Middle Child Photography at Myrtle Beach State Park.

Corn Casserole

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought I'd share my favorite side dish.  Now this isn't one I remember from my childhood, but it is one I have learned to savor in my young adult years.  Both my mom and my grandma from my dad's side have made it, but I'm not sure who started the tradition.  Anyway, it really doesn't matter since we all love it.  A quick Google search will find you many variations, but this is my favorite.

Corn Casserole

1 onion, diced (sweet yellow is my favorite)
1 green pepper, diced
1 stick of butter
1 can whole corn, drained
1 can creamed corn
2 beaten eggs
1 box corn muffin mix (we always use Jiffy)
1 bar of cream cheese, softened, cubed
1 c of sour cream
2c of shredded cheese (cheddar, colby, pepper jack, or any combo is good)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Saute onion, green pepper and butter in skillet over medium heat.  In large bowl, fold together beaten eggs and corn.  Add in muffin mix.  Add in onion and pepper mix, slowly.  Stir in cream cheese cubes and 1 c of shredded cheese.  Pour into greased 9 x 13 pan.  Spoon sour cream over mixture (you can swirl it in).  Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese over the top.  Bake in oven for 40 minutes.

This is sooo yummy.  I made it the first week in November (or was is the end of October?) because I was craving it.  It's a fantastic side dish to many main meals, although it does speak of turkey, gravy, and cranberry to me.  Do you have a favorite dish you look forward to with holidays?  I'd love to hear about it.

Taco Soup

We finally have had some cooler weather, and by cool, I mean it might be 45 overnight and 65 during the day.  I'm all for boots, long sleeves, and scarves!  I also took the dropping temperatures as a sign to bring out the crock pot and make soup.  My grandma has a great taco soup recipe that I was dying to make.  Of course, I had to alter it, I can't leave any recipe alone.  My excuse is usually that I don't have all the ingredients and I don't want to make a trip to the store.  So here is my version of Taco Soup.

• 1 can of chicken broth
• 1 can of corn
• 1 can of diced tomatoes with chiles
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 small can of green chiles
• 1 pkt of taco seasoning
• 1 pkt of ranch dressing mix
• 1 can of water
• a few frozen chicken breasts

Everything went in the crockpot on low for several hours.  Maybe 6 hours.  I took out the chicken, diced it, and dumped it back in.  I switched the pot to warm until we were ready to eat.  I served with sour cream, cheese, and tortilla chips.  It made TONS.  I probably have enough for a week.

Perfect fall food.  It warm, slightly spicy, filling, easy to make, and is enough for several meals.  Thanks Grandma!

Another Park Playday

Last weekend we took the kiddos to a park.  One of the shopping attractions in our city has a nice fenced in park along the waterfront with equipment sized for smaller children.  It is perfect for my munchkins.  However, the day we chose was a bit chilly.  The wind gusts made for a short visit.

Slides are the best.

Love the joy on his face!

Is there any other way to go down a slide?

My happy baby boy!

Precious girl, she was too active to get many pictures.

Really love this one.

This is the water the playground overlooks.  It is a large pond with shops and eateries all the way around and chuck-full of fish and ducks.  A kind lady from the toy store gave us bread to feed them.  I wish we had pictures of that.  Maybe next time.

Handsome's Second Birthday Party

My baby boy turned two!  We celebrated with two parties.  (here is the first one.)  The second one I planned a bit better.  It wasn't at impromptu.  I enjoy organizing and planning a party when I have the time.  I chose a harvest/fall theme so I could take advantage of the seasonal decorations. 

Menu:

house salad

crockpot lasagna

garlic bread

pumpkin bread and cake

salted caramel cupcakes

apple cider

coffee

Forgive me for not taking pictures of the main course.  I had a house full of hungry people and kiddos that were pre-occupied with cupcakes and presents.  The recipe for crockpot lasagna can be found here.  The only alteration I made was to add 1lb of ground hamburger to appease Hubby.  It turned out delicious.  The dessert recipes can be found here and here.

For the party decor, I uses items I already had on hand.  Mini pumpkins, upcycled glass jars with raffia paper and yellow fabric tied on.  I did buy the flowers at the grocery store.  It was one bouquet and I split it up. 

Here is my angel waiting patiently for his cupcake.

Devouring said cupcake. He is so serious!

Playing with a train while waiting for Papa to get the fire truck out of the package.

Finally!  Getting to play with the fire truck!  Oh to be two again!

Boardwalk

Sunday afternoon was beautiful.  We chose to spend it at the boardwalk.  It wasn't that busy since its the "off" season.  There are lots of shops and restaurants, and of course, the beautiful beach.

The Sky Wheel was new this summer.  I'm not sure how much it costs.  I think it would be an awesome date night.  Just me and Hubby at sunset.  Or maybe just after sunset when its all lit up.

Its pretty big.  We ate lunch underneath/beside it.

Picture of Hubby with his brothers and dad.

And of course the much sought after family photo.

We had a great afternoon with the family and I'm looking forward to going again.  There is something nostalgic about enjoying funnel cakes, hot dogs and Ferris Wheel rides along the beach.

Penguin and Princess

Here is my baby penguin:

And my Princess: Hubby dressed her in her Christmas dress from last year.  It also had a pink and black tweed long coat to go over it.  She was hiding in her room (in the dark!) for this picture.  Hubby used the flash on the camera, and she thought it was funny.

I had to work on Halloween (12 hours! yikes!), but Hubby took the kiddos to a local shopping area.  Princess thought it was a big birthday party.  She kept telling people "Happy Birthday!"  Isn't that adorable?  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your Monday!

Fall Closet Remix

It's finally that time of year here at the beach.  You know what I mean.  The weather is cooler.  Like 60s.  That's what fall is here.  With the occasional 76 degree day.  At least that's what I am told.  The breezy ocean air chills things off at night to the 40s.  I like this kind of cold.  I haven't switched from iced coffee to hot at Starbucks, yet, but I have thought about it.  I'm even itching to bake something with pumpkin in it.  But I'll save that for another post.  This weekend, however, I tackled the closet.

I have actually been excited about this.  I've been waiting in anticipation.  I love fall clothes.  Especially when I haven't been able to wear them in 8 months or more.  This autumn is a bit different, because  I boxed most of these up early.  As you may recall, we moved in June.  I started packing in January.  At the first hint of Spring, I sifted through my winter and fall clothes, purging anything I didn't wear, anything with holes, too stretched out, anything that didn't fit, anything I didn't want to take.  I basically only moved my favorites.  And I've missed them.  Clothes that you love are like good friends.  I think fall clothes are my best friends.  Anyway, the point is, that I have been looking forward to the season changing and bringing out my fall boxes.

I smartened up a bit this year.  I've been staying away from browsing the online clothing stores and the mall.  Usually, I fall hard for a cool weather must-have and decide I need 10 new shirts and 5 new pants for the cold weather before I open up my boxes.  This year, somehow I've been busy and haven't had the time to look.  I "went shopping" in my closet as I switched out the seasons.  And I am delighted.  I think my Hubby will be too once he realizes how much money I saved.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I buy something to update my wardrobe, but it will be a smarter purchase since I already know what I have currently in my closet.

 These totes had to be unpacked, then re-packed, with the appropriate clothing.  First things first, I had to take inventory of closet.

I am afraid of commitment, so I can't put away all my short-sleeved shirts.  I kept a few favorites.   Everything else I threw on bed.  All baskets and piled clothing, you guessed it, thrown on the bed.  Then, I tossed all worn out clothing and clothing I didn't wear at all this summer.  The remains were packed up.  Finally, I dust-mopped the closet.  Deep breaths and apple juice rounded out stage one.  (what?  I have toddlers)

I unpacked THREE tubs of clothes.  Seriously, do I have this much?  Thank goodness they aren't all full.  Then, I separated out the real winter stuff.  It hasn't froze yet, so I shouldn't have it taking up precious closet space.  I set aside clothes I don't remember wearing last year.  I know I did this before I moved, but there were several shirts I remember having reasons NOT to wear them.  Organized chaos abounds on my bed and spills into baskets on the floor.

On to the juicy stuff of hanging up shirts, organized by color, in order of the rainbow.  Yes, we have already established I'm weird.

 

Then socks, panties, and belts were placed in separate baskets.
 

Pants were folded and place in drawer,  plus camis/loungepants/nighties were folded and place in drawer. 

Cardigans and bras on hooks.

Fold sweaters, place on upper shelf alongside cold-er weather pants and skirts.

Hang scarves on back of bathroom door.

Pack up clothing reserved for cold-er weather.  Pack up clothing to be donated.  Re-dust floor.

I like to label my storage totes with duct tape and black marker.  As long as I remember to stack them all the same direction, it works out rather well.  And I can't say enough for wicker baskets.  I purchased the ones seen here from Pier 1 my junior year of college.  They have moved with me numerous times, stored many things, and kept me sane.  I love the look they lend.

Anyone else tackle a project this weekend?  Perhaps you got to experience some fall weather?  Please tell me someone else gets as giddy over a freshly organized space as I do?

Grandma and the Beach

In mid-October my Grandmother made the trek from the midwest to the beach for a visit.  We hadn't seen her since June and we missed each other terribly.  I was lucky enough to have a three day weekend.  The first afternoon we had together we walked to the beach.  It was a beautiful afternoon and here are some of the lovely pictures we took.

Grandma and Handsome making a sand castle.

Group pic.  Sorta.

Don't remember what he was pointing at, but we have about 5 pictures of it.

Princess did a lot of jumping.  The tide was out, so there were a few tide pools.  She enthusiastically jumped in ALL of them.

Meanwhile, Handsome took a break and chilled out.  Literally.

Then, he worked on exfoliating his feet/legs.

Finally, he ran around yelling "I gunna gistchu!"  In actuality, we had to get him.  Thank goodness I didn't have to carry him home. 

Aren't my munchkins adorable?  Thanks for visiting Grandma!