First official day of break

Today was my first official day of break.  I stayed in my pajamas for the majority of the day.  Surprise surprise. Mac and I had a yogurt date.  I thoroughly enjoyed my Oikos strawberry Greek yogurt (I currently cannot get enough of that lately) and Mac destroyed his Yoplait Boston Cream Pie yogurt.  He enjoyed it so much that it got all over his face......

While Mac was napping, I was finally able to get ready for my day.  AKA did my hair and put on makeup for the first time in a couple of days.  (YAY for being lazy!).  Joe got home and we headed out to go pick up Parker and then to head to the ultrasound appointment.

Parker (Erica's oldest daughter) went to the appointment with us because she was going to be the one who found out what the Meatball is.  She is making gender reveal cupcakes for us for tomorrow.  I thought it was incredibly sweet.

What we found out at the appointment: Meatball was not cooperating which caused the appointment to last longer than usual.  Meatball was curled up with hands between the legs and face squished up against the wall.  I literally had to eat a chocolate breakfast bar and go for a walk to try to get the Meatball to move.  Eventually Meatball moved.  But buddy I could definitely feel where he baby was at by where the technician was pushing.  Right now the baby had a heartbeat of 148.  Meatball is about 5 inches long and weighs in at a big whopping 8 ounces.  The baby has the official due date of May 28th but now the baby is measuring 4 days ahead (so Meatball is measuring the way a baby would who was due May 24).  They are not going to change the due date though.  The technician was pretty excited to be able to measure certain things at the baby's age because usually they can't this early.  However, apparently because I am "small" it enabled her to be able to get those measurements.  When I asked her about it she said that I am small and I am not 300 pounds.  Apparently being a tiny helps with  ultrasound stuff!  We didn't get amazing pictures on this go around due to the baby's lack of cooperation but.......

However, the technician did give Parker an envelope with a gender revealing picture inside it......we will find out tomorrow........

On a sweet, silly note.  My head is pounding and I have the world's worst headache.  Mac asked what was wrong and I told him that my head hurt.  He kissed my head and goes "Oh mommy, your head hurt? you should go to the doctor."  He can be so sweet sometimes......

RECIPES: Sweet & Spicy Chili

Being married to Joe has really opened my eyes to the world of chili.  My favorite will probably always be Skyline Chili but this chili is not too far behind.  The is the chili that our friend Caryn makes.  It is really good!  

Sweet & Spicy Chili

2 tbsp. vegetable oil
16 oz. coarse ground beef12 oz. sirloin (prime grade is best), cubed into 1/4 in. chunks2 medium yellow onions, chopped into 1/4 in. dice1 shallot, diced fine2 tbsp. finely chopped garlic
1 green bell pepper, diced 1/4 in.
1 cup tomato paste
1/2 tsp. fine-ground instant espresso
1 cup dark brown sugar
4 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground cayenne
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. kosher salt
3 15 oz. cans kidney beans
2 cups beef stock
1 28 oz. can peeled plum tomatoes, chopped (drained, but reserve juice)
12 oz. dark beer (Guinness recommended)
3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 serrano pepper, seeded and chopped (we did not use this pepper)

1 red bell pepper, diced 1/4 in.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed stock pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned thoroughly about 8 minutes. Drain off excess fat.  Add sirloin, garlic, onions, shallots, green and red bell peppers and continue to cook for an additional 12 minutes, making sure to thoroughly brown the sirloin and get a good carmelization on the vegetables.  Add the tomato paste, espresso, dried seasonings, and sugar. Saute and thoroughly mix over medium heat for 10 minutes.  Add beans, stock, tomatoes, beer, and hot peppers and let simmer for one hour over medium-low heat, stirring the mixture every 10 minutes.  Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for additional one hour, using the reserved drained tomato juice to thin if needed.  

Who needs a kitchen rug when you have a Heyward?

Snow & Lowes

On Sunday we got more snow.  Just over 6 inches of snow.  Of course that didn't stop us from getting things done!  Joe wanted to get going on the drywall in the terrible red room so off to Lowes we headed.  We got drywall and drywall stuff and primer and a sample of the color we are thinking for the terrible red room (Valspar Notre Dame).  I think putting up the drywall took loner than we expected.  Joe got about 4 outlets covered.

We were in Lowes for a while.....so my smart self brought my ipad.  I am a genius.

By the time we got out of Lowes....the snow was really coming down!

FAMILY: "Cooldozer"

Mac made ornaments at Erica's again and I love them.  We put his Santa hand from last year next to his Santa hand from this year...such a big boy!

I got to hang out with Mac today while Joe went to the movies with Lee.  When Mac woke up from his nap, the city had bulldozers and scrappers out taking care of the new snow.  Mac refers to the bulldozers as "cooldozers."  He loved looking out of his window and watching them go up and down the road.  It was really cute!

Free at last!

It is Friday at 3:55.  I don't have to work for another 2 weeks (well, I have to lesson plan during the break).  I am already in my pajamas.  The Christmas just is lit up.  We are supposed to be getting more snow tonight.  Happy happy happy.

Speaking of snow.  The other day we got like 6-7 inches.  My relo was not shoveled out so I just had to dig myself through to my classroom.  Once I got inside, I sat down at my desk where I noticed something strange. Next to my back door there was a little pile of snow.  We never use the back door so I was pretty baffled.  There wasn't a ton of snow anymore but you could completely see how big the pile used to be because it was melting......welcome to Alaska.  There is snow outside and there is snow inside your classroom.

Mac and his friends at daycare also spent some time hanging out in the snow.

Mac made some art work at day care the other day and it is currently hanging on our Christmas tree....

Look at this funny picture I saw online....

RECIPES: Mexican Spaghetti & Pot Roast

Joe and I have really been trying to cook more and try more recipes out.  Some days that is harder than others.  Especially when the belly is wanting something in particular.  Today, we tried a Pinterest meal that I found.  Oh. My. Goodness.

Mexican Spaghetti
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed (we cut up a rotisserie chicken that we had)
1 cup sour cream
1 can rotel, not drained
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken
Spaghetti noodles (original recipe calls for 8 ounces)
shredded cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350.  Cook noodles according to directions.  Mix together all of the other ingredients, minus the cheese.  Spray a 9 X 13 baking dish.  Add cooked noodles to the chicken mixture.  Pour in dish.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Cover with shredded cheese and bake until melted.

While dinner was baking tonight, I prepped tomorrow's dinner.  Pot Roast.

Different Pot Roast
pot roast meat
1 packet dry ranch mix
1 packet au jous mix
1 stick of butter
1 onion, chopped

Put all ingredients in the slow cooker.  Butter goes on top of the meat.  Cook on low for 7-8 hours in the slow cooker.

FAMILY: Snuggle time

Mac and I had some snuggle time yesterday.  He wanted pictures....so we took pictures.  He likes to see himself....and then he giggles.  I love this crazy little man.

And this is how Mac watches Yo Gabba Gabba with Joe.  Yo Gabba Gabba is such a weird show (but then again so are most children shows....these people have to be on drugs when they create it).

After Yo Gabba Gabba, it was Mac's bathtime with Joe.  I enjoy sitting here listening to them.  It makes my heart happy.  While I was listening to them, Heyward tried to fit into Bella's crate....didn't quite work.

Yesterday, Joe's Amazon order came in...and in that order came my new cookbook!  We own Jessica Seinfeld's first book "Deceptively Delicious" which we cook off of a lot because the recipes are great AND added bonus....they hide veggies in food.  So good!  Joe and Mac are not big veggie eaters so I have to get creative with veggies.  I got pretty excited when I heard that the author had another book out.  I read over it today and I am pretty excited.  This one is not geared towards toddlers but rather to busy families AND the recipes are healthy while hiding veggies in some of the recipes.  I am pretty excited to try this bad boy out!