Just An Ordinary Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Friends! We have been busy at work all morning practicing  numbers, shapes and coloring circles and lines. Whew... the life of a two year old is hard work!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

My little man LOVES pretend play, so we have been dressing-up and playing Fireman and Doctor just about every single day this week. I just love the inventive imagination of a toddler!

 

 

Now that Daddy is home and we are all back together as a family again, I am back to cooking for the three of us.

 

 

 

 I must admit, it was nice living with Gigi and having her cook yummy dinners every night! :)

 

 

I am getting back on  track with meal planning and budgeting. I have mentioned before that I LOVE E-meals! Well, guess what? E-meals now has a slow-cooker option!!!!

 

 I am the self-proclaimed Crock-Pot Queen!!!

 

I just signed-us up for this plan this past week. Yesterday, Robbie and I headed out to the Commissary on base,( where we always get the best deals).  

 

Here is tonight's E-meals Crock pot recipe

 

Loaded Potato Soup

 

4 slices bacon

¼ cup chopped onion ½

 (32 oz) frozen Southern-style hash browns

 1 clove garlic, chopped

14 oz can chicken broth

 ½ teaspoon seasoned salt

 ¼ teaspoon pepper

 ½ cup half-and-half

 

 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

2 tablespoons sour cream

⅓ cup shredded Cheddar cheese

   

Cook bacon until crisp; crumble. Place onions, hash browns, garlic, chicken broth, salt, and pepper in a lightly greased 3- to 4- quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours. Stir in half-and-half. Mash with a potato masher to desired consistency. Serve with bacon, chives, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese.

 

 

Recently, my Mom has been doing research on clean and healthy organic eating and some of the results and information are truly astonishing!! So, I have taken the next step toward creating a better and healthier lifestyle for my young and growing family by simply buying organic fruits and vegetables.

 

We are living in a condo now in Orange County California by the beach. So, growing a vegetable garden will be difficult this year. I did some research on-line about organic produce and found a wonderful alternative to home grown vegetables...

 

 

This is a wonderful family run and owned farm that delivers organically grown, fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to your door.  I pay around $25.00 every two weeks and this cute box is waiting on my doorstep every Tuesday morning when I wake-up full of just picked, fresh fruits and veggies!!!

 

I mean who could ask for more? I don't even have to leave my house, or get dressed to go to the grocery store, and believe me... with a busy toddler in my life this is a HUGE help!!

 

 

 

Well, we are off to the park before nap time. Enjoy your day everyone!

 

Blessings,

 

Robert Is TWO!!!

 

Last weekend my little man turned TWO years old.... seriously, when did this happen?

 

 

Robbie, weren't we just here a minute ago?

 

 

 let's just press pause right here and have you stay this age FOREVER!!!

 

 

We didn't do a big party this year, because I wasn't actually planning on Daddy being home yet from his deployment! Instead, we had a quiet lunch, birthday cake and presents with both sets of Grandparents at Gigi's house.

 

 

Gigi made such a nice birthday for Robbie!

 

 

Robbie helped Gigi make his birthday cake and he was so PROUD of it! Robbie loves a television program called ; "Max and Ruby".... all week he talked about having a cake just like Max and Ruby!

 

 

And here is the cake!!

 

 

 Here is our little birthday boy all ready to open some presents!

 

 We had a challenging past year, with Daddy deployed, it was just you and me kiddo! We made it through and I enjoyed every minute with you, my wonderful son!

 Here is your second year in review sweet pea!

 

September : Daddy Deploys to a faraway land . . .

 

 

This picture is from our last moments with Daddy before he left on his deployment.

 

 There you are waving goodbye to Daddy.

 

 

 You love to play with all of your babies and pretend the box is your car.

 

 

You started using the potty!!!

 

You grew a vegetable garden with Mommy.

 

 

You started doing chores.

 

 

You went to your first Halloween party!

 

 

 

 You were a Tiger for Halloween and you went Trick-or - treating for the first time!

 

 

 

 

 We had some sick times . . .

and definitely good times!

 

 

 We marched in the town's Christmas Parade!

Merry Christmas morning!

 

 

 

You were my Valentine this year!

 

 

 

You wore your first suit on Easter Sunday!

 

 

BEST of all  . . . Daddy Came home in time to see you turn 2 !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So happy birthday little one, you are our greatest blessing and we love you!

 

This is a first birthday picture of you blowing-out the candle on your cupcake ...

 

 

and now, your second birthday cake photo!!

 

 

  To many more blessed, happy, healthy birthdays my love!

Love,

 Mommy

Oh Captain, My Captain is HOME!!!

My Marine is HOME!!! 

I can hardly BELIEVE I am saying these words! After almost eight long months in a far away land, my husband, father to my son and love of my life is safe and sound at home !!!

We picked Rich up from the airport last week... anxiously awaiting his arrival! Here is a picture of Robbie when he saw his Daddy for the first time in months!! 

The video above brings tears to my eyes and the song has been on my I-Pod and one that I have listened to every single day since Rich deployed. 

Here are some pictures of Rich seeing the family for the first time. Above he is with my Mom, Robin and my Dad, Ray. Below, Rich is with his Mom, Carla and his Grandma, Lynn. 

Here is one of the professional photos that the newspaper took of our little family ! 

After seeing all of us, the first thing Rich wanted to do was eat some good old fashioned California MEXICAN food!!! So we went to one of our favorite spots in Old Town San Diego...

We had a blast at lunch catching-up and sharing with our Marine. I just couldn't resist taking this photo of my Dad with the Dos Equis Beer Man!! All of the waitresses at the restaurant were talking about how much my Dad looked like the famous; "Most Interesting Man In The World"! ha ha 

WELCOME HOME, MY DARLING RICHARD!  THANK YOU GOD! 

" I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O MOST HIGH."  Psalm 9:1-2

Blessings,