Santa's using Shutterfly

As a mom I love pictures of my children, taking them, sharing them, and putting them on gifts for family and friends. I do this with the help of the photo site Shutterfly. I love Shutterfly for prints, cards, and gifts throughout the year. I've used them for birth announcements, prints, photo mugs, and even mouse pads. They can put your pics on almost anything it feels like.

One of my favorite products they offer is cards. They provide you with several card design options which you then can insert your own family photos into, and personalize the text with their easy editing program (all while on the web, no downloading required). They'll address and send your cards out for you or send them all to you so you can do it yourself. They are great high quality card stock with vibrant colors which look great. Perfect for Christmas Cards (and they have tons of choices). They also offer a large variety of Holiday Cards which would be beautiful personalized with your pics.

Now you may be wondering why I'm so excited about their cards to blog on them now well besides that last week my birth announcements for E arrived (be checking mail boxes soon), right now Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards for bloggers who write about their products. If you're interested in participating check it out here: Shutterfly Free Holiday Cards.

If you don't need cards this year Shutterfly also has great options for Christmas gifts that I'm sure your family members would love (I know I would). You can make photo books quickly with a beautiful final project (easier to make and keep track of then albums in my opinion too). And for the kids you can get their photos made into books and puzzles featuring their favorite television characters. C and J love Dora and Diego so these are perfect for us. Santa will definitely be using Shutterfly this year.

ETA: Here is the card we chose to send for 2010

Chili Day and Sweet Night

Horrible pun I know but when a friend mentioned having chili today and then the gloomy rain came in with a chill in tow it just seemed to be meant to be. So I made homemade chili for dinner and it turned out perfectly.
I used this recipe for "Flatlander Chili" and the only change I made was a little less Cayenne since I didn't want it to be too spicy for the kids.

The kids ate all their's and hubby ate till he was too stuffed for dessert so it definitely went over well and I will be making it again. And I remembered to take some food pics since I was proud of it lol. Second one is with sour cream and cheese.

 And as mentioned earlier I made the Pumpkin Muffins too. The recipe is only supposed to make one dozen but it made 1.5 for me as you can see. We had to wait a bit after dinner to have room but these were amazing too and we have tons left over. It's a little bit heavier muffin so could easily be a breakfast option on the run (most likely will be hubby's breakfast tomorrow).

Pumpkin Pumpkin Pumpkin

The kids are having afternoon snacks so I wanted to take a sec to share some of my cooking endeavors thus far this week. The theme is pumpkin!

Nothing too exciting but I finally made my own fresh pumpkin puree so this house will be canned pumpkin free this year. I can tell you from tasting it definitely makes a difference and it's so simple to do.

All you have to do to get your own fresh pumpkin puree
-Cut a sugar pumpkin (aka pie pumpkin) in half
-Scrape out the seeds and most of the pulp with a spoon
-Place them open side down in 1/4 water in a glass baking dish or roasting pan (I did both since I had 3 pumpkins) 
-Bake at 350 for 45-60minutes (check with fork to see when you can easily pierce)
-Then Scoop out the Meat (pretty much everything but the peel) and blend or use a food processor to puree
And you can use this in place of canned pumpkin in all your recipes (Also can be frozen or will keep in the fridge 5 days).

If you want a more detailed explanation check out this site. It also has pictures and if you don't want to use the oven you can microwave or cook the pumpkin on the stove top

So I now have an abundance of fresh pumpkin puree in my fridge and freezer and plan to get more before the holidays are past so I can save it for other times of year. I also think in several months it might be good for a baby food option for E. You can also do the above instructions to any squash type vegetable which adds even more food options.

Anyway so I cooked the pumpkins Saturday night and Sunday made Pumpkin Pies with this recipe:
Reading the comments you'll see this yields closer to 1.5 pies so I added 1 egg, used 2 cups of pumpkin, and 2 crusts and ended up with the perfect amount for 2 pies
Also I added a full tsp of cinnamon and only a pinch of cloves and it turned out perfectly taste wise too, it also tasted fresher from the fresh pumpkin. The only difference I noticed was they seemed lighter color than pies using canned pumpkin but it was still nicely orange and looked like pumpkin pie so it's not really an issue.

Monday I made Pumpkin French Toast for Breakfast. This is super easy and a very yummy treat for the holidays when you're not doing a huge meal. I found the initial recipe here
However that recipe seems to be a more subtle version and the pumpkin taste is almost lost (though that could be a good thing if you want to make your kids' breakfast a bit healthier and don't want the pumpkin taste). We did want the pumpkin taste though so I used 3/4 cups of pumpkin puree instead, and added Pumpkin Pie Spices (Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice) instead of the nutmeg alone, along with the recommend cinnamon. I also added a tsp of Vanilla and a dash of clove and it was amazing! Especially with Whipped cream with a cinnamon sprinkled on it.
Pumpkin French toast mixture as I adjusted it: Beat together the following then dip 8 slices of whole wheat bread in it and cook on Medium heat in a frying pan with butter, Serve with Syrup, Whipped Cream, or Powdered Sugar, or eat them on their own. You can also add white sugar to the mix if you want a sweeter toast without topping.

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or (Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice)
• A dash of ground Clove

Wish I had pictures of the pies and french toast but both were quickly devoured by my family. I'll try and get pics when I make them again which I'm sure will be soon.

Anyway continuing on the Pumpkin path I will be making Pumpkin Muffins tonight (would be today but I'm out of baking powder). Here's the recipe. I'll let yall know how it goes.


BTW All the above will make your house smell amazing and definitely put you in the holiday mood :)

The Music of Motherhood

I hope I'll be able to keep up with the blog through the holiday but I figured just in case I'm too busy for that I'll take any moment I have in the meantime to write down some thoughts.

My current moment's peace is brought to you by the nursing baby on my chest and my two toddlers "reading" to each other on the living room floor. Someone witnessing the current scene might claim this is quiet, and compared to the more exciting moments of the day they may be technically right. But though my house is calm right now and my kids' variety of noises are all within normal volume levels my life is never quiet and the noises are constantly changing.

Right now I hear the lull of my washer going, it will soon finish it's cycle and I'll need to go put the load in the dryer. I hear the ice maker working, and E has now finished her meal and is working on a gift for me so I hear small baby grunts. C and J are now singing to each other. And in between these I hear my mind busily working, worrying, planning, for the next meal, moment, and necessity. Even while writing this I have a Thanksgiving grocery list forming in my mind, along with the menu for tonight's dinner, and plans to do some cleaning and decor before my Sister in laws arrive tonight.

This is the music of my life, the hymn of motherhood in an sense. No it is never quiet and the thought of true silence with children makes me very nervous honestly but it is a beautiful harmony with the tempo always changing and it's definitely never boring. Even when all my babes are asleep I listen to the rhythms of every breath they pass. I hear the wind against the windows and am thankful my family is warm inside. And although my thoughts may slow I still fall asleep with plans for the next day filling my mind.

I love this song even when it is at times stressful and I wouldn't trade it for the silent moments of my previous life or anything else. Must run baby E is ready for her change and so is the laundry. Can't let the tune stop and wouldn't want to anyway.:)

Memories of Thanksgiving

I've been thinking about this a lot recently and wanted to write it down. This isn't as much about my current Thanksgiving as the ones in years past when I was growing up and how the holiday has changed for me.

Growing up, Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays and not for the food. My mom and I would go down to Atlanta to visit my grandparents, Mema and Granddaddy. and all my uncles would come over with their families. I remember how happy everyone was and the warmth of the get together. I remember silly things like playing with the motorized lounge chair in the front room to the side of the living room. I remember standing at the edge of the small kitchen and the dining room trying to peak at all the good food that was being made. I remember the excitement I got every time some one knocked on the door and I ran to greet yet another loved one. It was a surprise each time who would arrive next.

I can still imagine Mema's beautiful soft voice that sounded like she was singing to me when she called my mother's name. I remember Granddaddy sitting in his recliner and his rock collection. I remember Uncle Sam's hugs and how he'd kiss Granddaddy on his forehead when he arrived and before he left. I remember my cool big cousins who I thought of as the most beautiful girls I'd ever seen (inside and out) and who I wanted to be like when I grew up.  I remember talking with Uncle Ken in the living room about how my school was going. Uncle Auby peeling potatoes and chopping onions. I remember us saying the blessing and what we were thankful for. And I remember always being a little sad when everyone had to go home but so happy and thankful I got to see them and celebrate with them.

Some years we had Thanksgiving at my mom's house in North Georgia. If the weather was nice we could eat and chat outside on the deck. I remember our various cats would come up to the sliding glass doors to see what was going on outside and Granddaddy would meow at them to get them to come closer to him. I remember all the people being in my mom's living room being a lit cramped but no one ever complained since we so enjoyed the company.

On Thanksgiving we also would celebrate my birthday which probably added to the fun for me but still my greatest gift was being surrounded by all that love.

The last Thanksgiving we had at my mom's house (when all my uncles and aunts were there) the main thing I remember is what I was thankful for, my Uncle Ken had finally stopped smoking. I still tear up thinking about how happy I was when he told me and saying that when it was my turn to give thanks.

The following year things changed drastically and my favorite holiday became my most dreaded. Before the next Thanksgiving Uncle Sam passed away suddenly of lung cancer that came out of nowhere . Uncle Ken was diagnosed with lung cancer as well. Mema broke her hip and had to go into a care facility to help in her recovery. That year my mom and I had Thanksgiving with Uncle Auby and his wife at a Vegetarian Chinese Restaurant after visiting Mema. This was the start of several years of sad Thanksgivings. My mom and I went to the Marietta Diner one year, other various restaurants for others and though I love spending the time with my mom I know it was a reminder to both of us of the people who were now missing from our celebration. We even had Thanksgiving at my Dad's house once with just my Dad, Mom, and I but even my Dad cried during the meal. The tradition of sad Thanksgivings continued. I lost the joy of Thanksgiving when we lost the family members we were so thankful for.

Finally at the age of 21 (almost 22) I had a wonderful Thanksgiving again. This was my first Thanksgiving at my husband's grandparents house in NC. With baby C in tow I was welcomed into my new extended family and into their traditions. The food was still the same as it had been years before, the same dishes, and made with the same love, though by different hands. The laughter returned and the comfort as well. My mom went to my sister's that year and had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving as well. The following year I went to NC again this time with J as well and it was again wonderful, warm, and welcoming. Last year we had Thanksgiving at my Mom's house for the first time I can remember since the last real Thanksgiving of my childhood. My sister came up with her family and once again the house was filled with love and happiness for the holiday. 

When I married the love of my life and when my family grew into his I found Thanksgiving again. I still miss the family members I don't see for this holiday those who've passed and those who have just moved on to their own new traditions, but I hope I will be able to reconnect with them in the following years as well. And as I look towards the first Thanksgiving at my house, I am so happy and thankful that I'm not dreading any emptiness or that something will be missing. My house will be filled with love and family once again as well as with the smells of good food. I am Thankful for the time I got to spend with my family when I was little and am thankful that my children get to give thanks in a home filled with love as well and make their own memories for what I hope will be one of their favorite holidays.

Holidays Incoming

The holiday season is looming and I know already the next month is going to speed by in no time. I already have a fairly big to do list including lots of shopping, baking, and traveling (well not that much traveling but with 3 age 3 and under it seems like a lot).

To start there's less than a week till Thanksgiving! This year I will be hosting Thanksgiving and cooking most of it at our house. For the past few years we were in a small two bedroom apartment in the middle of the city so it was much more comfortable to get out of town and go up to North Carolina to visit hubby's grandparents. This year we finally have the space and comfortable surroundings to host a celebration here. So my mom, MIL, and sister-in-laws will be coming here for the holiday. It won't be as many people as years past but there will still be loads of food and lots of love which is what counts.

  Exactly a week after Thanksgiving will be another celebration, though not a holiday of course, my 25th birthday! Wow I feel like I'm getting old, halfway to 50 and all that, but better to have the birthday than not for sure. We're not planning anything really and for the kids it's just an extra excuse for cake but still I'm a little excited. I've noticed on many forms recently I have to select 18-24 or 25-30 so someone out there seems to think 25 is a bigger deal if I get to move up a whole check box right?

A couple days after my birthday will be MIL's. Since she is staying in town for a bit right now I will probably try to have a family celebration for her. Last year she was here for her birthday as well and we got her a German Chocolate cheesecake and gift of a few nice scarves, wine sealer, and lots of chocolate. Not sure what we'll get her this year but chocolate will probably be involved again. She says she's already gotten the main thing she wanted, the new World of Warcraft game.

After the birthdays we will have a couple weeks till Christmas. During this time we will have to travel to North GA to visit my Dad and various extended family, and then to North Carolina to visit hubby's grandparents and aunts and uncles. We will probably do one of the trips before Christmas and one after. How long we spend will probably depend on how the road trip with three little ones goes. It's not too long a drive thankfully but still our first longer trip since E's arrival.

Christmas we will be spending at home as well. This will be the first year we can actually have a full size real Christmas tree and I plan to take advantage of that. The in-laws will be in town again for the celebrations (though not sure if that will be for the actual day of or not). My FIL will be coming from overseas and MIL is hoping for him and hubby to get some handy man stuff done together. One major thing we hope to have done is a play set in the back yard! I am very excited about this for the kids.

We're still trying to figure out if we'll be at home or in NC for New Year's but we're okay playing it by year still for now.

I also really hope to meet up with some of my more local relatives I haven't seen in way too long. Hopefully we can arrange some playdates with them as well!

So yes it will be a fairly busy month, making lots of new family memories. It should be exciting and perhaps a little overwhelming but definitely will be worth it.

Sibling Love from a 9 week old's perspective

Recently E has becoming more and more aware of her surroundings. She had the Mommy radar down early on. If I was in the room even before I said anything she seemed to know and would quickly show that she wanted to be transferred to my arms. As the weeks went by she became more aware of the other people who frequented her surroundings and the two most exciting of those are of course Big Sis C and Big Bro J. She loves to sit in her boppy pillow or swing and watch them play. She will grin and smile when they talk or sing to her. She will look around and roll a little from side to side (not onto the belly completely yet) to look for them if they go to their room and you can tell if she could she'd be running after them.

Monday E turned 2 months old and today she is 9 weeks old and the last couple days her connection to her siblings has extended yet again, now to crying. Luckily my 3 and 2 year olds do not cry that often and we have been able to deter a lot of the whining/tantrum stage however they do still have the random outbursts when they're tired or stir crazy (as has been the last couple days since the rain kept us inside). However, every time C or J cry I will soon hear the echo from E sympathizing with her big siblings. Whether she's in her bassinet or in my arms it doesn't matter if she hears them cry she must in turn and just as soon as they stop she does as well. As quick as a light switch she's on and then off again. Despite that I don't want her getting upset I also see the love in this and it's nice that I can say "you're upsetting your little sister" and they will stop in an attempt to soothe her as well. It amazes me that they already have this connection.

When E first starting doing it I thought maybe it was just that she didn't like the loud noise of them crying but it is specific to them crying. She's a very easy going baby overall and won't cry if they're just loud in general or even when our super loud house alarm is going off, but her big siblings being upset is the one sound she can't take. I can't think of this in any other way but a 9 week old's way of showing her love. She already wants her big sister and big brother to be happy and if they aren't she can't be. It's amazing for me to see this early form of sibling love and I look forward to seeing it grow and develop more in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.