our little man, not so little anymore

Tuesday was Coopers birthday and I can’t believe that he is THREE. He is getting to be such a big boy. I look back at the past three years and truly wonder where has all the time gone. It seems like just yesterday I was worried that I wasn’t going to be having my miracle baby. For anyone who doesn’t know the story when we first found out we were going to have our little Cooper they said I would for sure have a miscarriage because my hormone levels that are suppose to go up when you are pregnant (which of course I don’t know all the medical terms, I leave that up to my sister) were going down so they said to come back in two weeks they would redraw my blood to recheck the levels and go over my options. (They were very good and helpful, but there was nothing more they could do) I was so sad, upset, confused, and hurting. I just didn’t know what to do, so I did lots of praying and went in and they drew my blood levels again and to their and my amazement the levels went back up. They said they have never really seen that happen before so I always call Cooper my little miracle baby. He was obviously meant for us. After that I was just so grateful I tried so hard not to complain about being pregnant, I just wanted to see my little man and once I did I was in heaven he was so darn cute and still is. We are so blessed to have our sweet Cooper around to enjoy everyday. 

Anyway, three years later we have just had a blast getting to know this little sweetheart and all his silly ways. Anyone who knows our Cooper just knows how cute, quirky, quiet, loving, sweet, smiley, and much more our Coopy is. One thing that he is is a bit OCD about stuff and one thing would be his addiction to trains. Not really sure why he just LOVES them. We’ve never really understood it since we don’t really have any type of train fascination ourselves, but he is fascinated with them. So we did a whole Train themed birthday. On Monday night we met Colby at the McCormick Ranch Train Park for some fun. We rode the carousel, played at the park and of course did the wonderful train that they have. (Cooper was in train heaven), then we ate at In-n-Out for one of Coopers favorite foods French Fries. Finally, we ended the night with his second favorite food Ice Cream at Cold Stone Creamery. It was a really fun night with the family. (Remember you can always click on our pictures to make them Zoom across the screen and get nice and big, I love it) 

Then on Tuesday we did his real party at Peter Piper Pizza for a fun little lunch with close neighborhood friends and family. It was really fun and stress free. (I do have to thank my friend Jackie for the idea, she did it first and I copied and I am so glad I did) Anyway, we had fun just eating pizza, playing games, having mini cupcakes (that I made from a boxed caked mix if you can believe it) and opening presents. Oh and guess what it was a Thomas the Train theme, that made it even better, Cooper was in heaven. It was fun just hanging out with friends and family. This was such and easy party.  After we got home Cooper was so tired he fell right to sleep for a little nappy time.  Night, night Birthday boy.  (This is our little birthday tribute and thank you to all who were able to make it to our train party, what a bunch of cute kids in this video)

I just wanted to say that I love all the wonderful people we have that hang with us and support us and sure love my little Cooper. Thanks everyone for coming we sure love you all.

Happy 3rd Birthday my sweet Cooper. You’re the best boy ever. We love you tons.

what's for dinnner

How about Angel Chicken, roasted carrots and yummy bread sticks. This is such a easy and yummy dinner that is done in the crock pot. It is one that I got from my friend, Sandra Stapley and I love it. It is a great one if you have company, are going to be gone for a bit and need something fast, or if you are taking dinner to someone who was sick or had a baby. Give it a try we love it and the roasted carrots are the best with it. I love roasted carrots with anything.

Angel Chicken (Sandra Stapley)

3 Boneless Chicken Breast
1/4 Cup Butter
1 Packet Dry Italian salad dressing mix
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
1/2 Cup white wine or chicken broth (I use white wine I think it taste better)
4 oz. chives and onion cream cheese
Angel hair pasta, fettuccini pasta or rice (I like angel hair pasta best)

Put chicken in a crock pot. Melt butter in a pan, then stir in all other ingredients except pasta or rice. When other ingredients are combined add sauce to chicken in the crock-pot. Cover and cook 4-5 hours. When finished cook pasta or rice and add chicken and sauce over pasta or rice.
(Serve with bread sticks or rolls, roasted carrots, and a salad)  For the carrots I just cut the carrots in thin slices, cover with a little olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.  Then bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.  Yummy.

lions and tigers and bears oh my

Since the kids had fall break we headed to the zoo with all the neighborhood friends.  It was a good time packed full of people.  I think the whole state of good old AZ had the same idea as us to go to the zoo.  It was jam packed.  Oh well we still enjoyed ourselves.  We of course saw the animals, then we played in the cool new water cave they built (that was really fun the kids loved it, if you haven't gone to the new water cave you have to go just to check it out), then we had a fun little picnic lunch by the water.  It was a good time by all.  Check out the pictures, the kids had a blast climbing up this huge old tree trunk, aren't they cute?  CLICK to Zoom!

chicken and black bean enchiladas

Here is a super yummy take on enchiladas that is great if you have to bring food to someone who has had a baby or is sick or anything.  It is nice because you can also freeze it and then just thaw it and cook it.  I like to make it and serve with corn and rice.  Try it one night it is super good.  My neighbor, Lisa, brought it to me when I had Cooper and now it is a favorite. 

Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas (By Lisa Boberg)

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup water
1 (15 oz) black bean, drained and rinsed
1 package dry enchilada seasoning mix
1 cup sour cream
8 (8 inch) flour tortillas
1 (10 oz)  can red enchilada sauce
8 oz (2 cups) cheddar cheese (shredded)
2 Tbsp. sliced green onion (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  In skillet stir together chicken, water, beans, and seasoning mix.  Cook over medium heat until mixture just comes to a boil, reduce heat to low.  Stir occasionally to blend flavors and cook 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in 1/2 cup sour cream.  
To assemble:  Spread 1 Tbsp. enchilada sauce on each tortilla, place 1/3 cup chicken mixture in center and sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. cheese.  Roll tortilla up.  Place seams-side down in greased 13X9 inch. Baking pan.  Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas and cover, bake for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake uncovered for 3-5 minutes for cheese to melt.  
To serve:  Serve with remaining sour cream and sprinkle with green onions, if desired.  
Serves about 4-8 people

halloween fun with the girls

Fall break, what to do, that was the question, so we decided to do Halloween rotations with neighborhood friends.  This afternoon we got the girls together to do some fun Halloween rotations (okay we also let a cute little guy, Ethan tag along) Basically what we did was 30 minute craft or snack time at four different houses.  It was really fun and gave the girls stuff to do, since school has started they haven’t got to get together and really play so this was their chance.  

It all started off at Amy’s house with pumpkin painting.  She got really cute, big, wood pumpkins at Michaels and had the kids paint, glitter, and sticker their pumpkins.  They turned out really cute and they had so much fun.  

Next they used the buddy system to walk over to my house for some ghostly fun.  We got black construction paper and I painted their feet and they stepped onto the black paper to make ghosts.  Then they painted a black face on their ghosts.  They turned out very cute.  Then we also did the very easy and  famouse Halloween tissure paper ghost with the Tootsie pops.  They really loved the ghostly fun.

Then they booked it over to Lisa’s house (across the street) for story time and snack making.  She made a delicious Halloween snack that she let them put together.  Here is the recipe if you are looking for a really easy and quick Halloween snack to make with your kidos for fall.

Halloween Snack Mix

6 cups caramel corn
2 cups salted cashews
1 1/2 cups candy corn
1/3 cup raisins
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well.  Yield:  about 2 quarts.

Finally, it was onto Jackie’s house for a batty good time.  They made these really neat flying bats.  They turned out so cute.  You cute out a bat and then use some fun glittery ribbon type material to put around the middle and then put eyes and finally attach some fishing sting to it so that is looks like it is flying though the air on it’s own.  Spooky.  

The kids had so much fun we just all had to run to the park to get any extra energy they might have had out.  It was our lucky day because the sprinklers were on at the park and the kids had a blast being kids running though the sprinklers getting way wet and way dirty.  This was a great afternoon filled with exciting Halloween activities.