Fall Harvest Orchard

This past weekend Josh, E, my sister Kelsey, brother-in-law Mark, and Elliana all went to the Fall Harvest Orchard. It was our first time and I was so excited! It was a bit of a drive but thankfully E took a little nap and was ready to go once we got there. 

We enjoyed the animals, apples and adventures! 

Have you been to an Orchard yet this fall?

Sneak Peek of Elijah's 1 year Photos

My friend Rachel of Sparrow & Crown Photography, who took my maternity photos, just took E's 1 year photos! Rachel put some on Facebook, with more to come! Here is a sneak peek of a couple she put on Facebook!

Cheesy Zucchini Bake

I had some Zucchini left that my mom and grandma grew and thought I better use it up before it goes bad! 

I decide to make up a new recipe. 

Here is it...

1. Chop up one large zucchini into quarters.

2. Add 1/3 c. Olive Oil, Chives, Seasoned Salt, Seasoned Pepper. I didn't measure out my seasonings, just added some of each. (Probably 1- 1 1/2 Tbsp of Chives, 1/4-1/2 tsp of salt/pepper). 

3. After stirring it all together in the bowl, pour the mixture into an 8x8 baking pan. 

4. Put it in the oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

5. Take it out and add cheese...lots of cheese! (Well unless you don't love cheese like we do)

6. Put it back into the over for another 10 minutes. 

7. Remove and serve! 

Cheesy Zucchini Bake

1. Cut 1 large Zucchini into quarters

2. Add 1/3 c. Olive Oil, Probably 1- 1 1/2 Tbsp of Chives, 1/4-1/2 tsp of  Seasoned salt/Seasoned pepper (I didn't measure these out, just added some of each)

3. Pour into an 8x8 baking pan.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes

5. Remove and add Cheese

6. Bake again for another 10 minutes

7. Remove and serve! 

I had added 1/2 c. Olive Oil and that was too much...so I would add 1/3 c. Also it could have used a little more kick...so maybe more pepper or some paprika. 

Let me know if you try it and if you try something different!

Baseball Party Part 2

Today is part 2 of the Baseball party we threw for E's first birthday! If you missed part 1 check it out here.

Now on to today's part 2, the menu!

Since we were having a baseball theme, the menu came pretty easily, we went with a concession stand theme. However, the hubs and I did disagree on a few things with the menu (what main items we should have), but in the end it was all great!! 

Here was the menu:

Main

Hot dogs

Hamburgers

Nachos

(my little brother enjoying some Nachos!)

Three kinds of salad

Minnesota Salad (all you need to know is Oreos were involved)

Pasta Salad

Cottage Cheese Salad

Extras

Popcorn (we borrowed a popcorn maker)

Peanuts (on the tables)

Cotton Candy

Dessert

Confetti Cake Pops
*Used my Cake Pop Maker (read about it here)

French Vanilla Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes

E's Smash Cake

Drinks

Bottled Water

Lemonade

Each food station had hand-made baseball labels with the food on them. I rubber glued the baseball on to the clothespin. 

Not everything turned out as planned (imagine that). I wanted baseball stripes on both the cupcakes and cake pops but ran out of time. I don't think many people minded though since EVERY SINGLE cake pop was GONE before the party was over! 

*Disclaimer: I was running around like crazy that I forgot to snap pictures of everything! SUGGESTION: Have someone there to be designated as the picture taker the whole time. We had someone do the smash cake photos and present photos, but I missed so much other stuff!

Baseball Party Part 1

We survived E's first birthday and party! I was exhausted and my feet hurt, but it was fun! I can't wait to share it with you all! I decided that instead of throwing out every detail and 100 pictures that I would do the party in parts. So...don't forget to check back this week for more details! 

First part...Invites! 

I snapped a couple pictures of Elijah one day in the back yard to make a "save the date" invite that I sent out via email. I used picnik.com to make up the "save the dates"....

Then my dear friend, Emily (who blogs over at The winking of an Eye) created our invites! I called Em one day to have her help me, I started creating the invites via Photoshop and just couldn't get it so I knew she would be able to help me. Well I sent her some of my ideas and we talked about chatting that weekend. Well less than an hour later (**I had worked for HOURS on them getting VERY little done) Em emailed me a rough draft that was just what I wanted! We changed a couple things and they were done! And I LOVED them!! They were just as I had envisioned! 

So without further ado....

*The address has been blocked out for privacy reasons. 

Seriously Em did a great job on them! I mailed them out in pin striped envelopes with baseball stickers on the back. 

Stay tuned for the menu...

Caution Readers...Poop Photos

Well first I must say that I did warn you...

Here is the story...

I went to change E this morning after he woke up. He had a very red and sore bottom and I will sometimes let him "air" out without a diaper on, which might I add he LOVES! Well I took off his diaper, put his shorts back on and thought...okay in 5-10 minutes I will put a new diaper on. Well I got distracted putting away his clothes and he was playing. All of a sudden I look over and he has the "I'm pooping look" on his face, in fact I said to him, "are you pooping?" I then went back to putting away his clothes (3 feet away from him might I add). and YES HE WAS pooping...WITHOUT a diaper on!! I looked over and saw this...

But not just this...but this with a little boy standing it, not sure what to do or what just happened! 

I screamed, I laughed and I wanted to cry. I grabbed E and held him out FAR from me and ran to the bath tub! E still didn't know what was happening! I got him cleaned up then put him in the crib so I could clean the floor. All I could do was laugh because it was ALL MY FAULT!! 

Please tell me I am not the only one who has done this?!?!

Still Kicking...

Hello Faithful readers!! I am still kicking over here, however barely! I have been working (first time really since E was born ALMOST a year ago) at the Early Childhood Center I worked at before E was born! Working, being a mom, wife, youth leader, baby shower planner, photographer, FIRST birthday party planner, friend and MOPS Hospitality Meeting Coordinator is really taking it's toll. I am physically, emotionally and mentally wiped out! So needless to say my blog has gotten the shaft! Fear not though...I will have SEVERAL projects to share including baby shower ideas and first birthday party ideas soon!! Stay tuned...