Cabin Fun

We spent last weekend at our cabin in the

I love it here.

Since John had to finish some contract website work before he starts his new job, he stayed home while Katie and I drove together with the kids.

We took walks with Grandpa . . .

rode the John Deere (Megan was too afraid) . . .


played in the rocks for hours and hours . . .





and even had a little . . .


Megan roasted and ate about 10 marshmallows in 5 minutes.


She really likes marshmallows.


A lot.


Once she was told she couldn't have any more, she promptly lost interest in the whole fire thing and walked through the darkness back to the cabin because it was "too cold" outside.

On the way home (which happened to be right at nap time),

the kids fought like they were siblings.

Colin wanted to watch some machinery DVD, Megan wanted (who else) DORA!

Imagine 5 hours of this . . .

Sorry about the sideways view . . . couldn't figure out how to fix it.

I love trips to NY! Next time, I'm just packing some earplugs for the car.

Either that or some boxing gloves for Megan. ha, ha

Colin is such a bully! Can you imagine, he talked to her in the car!!!!! I don't blame her a bit for whining and complaining about it for hours. :)

EMPLOYED!!!!!!!!

Things I'm thankful for today:

1. I'm so thankful we received multiple job

offers to mull over the past few days. (My John is one smart guy.)

2. I'm so thankful we narrowed it down to a job that John is excited about doing AND compensates him for what he is worth.

(He has been hired by a consulting firm to design software at the Columbus Airport.)

3. I'm so thankful we didn't reach the bottom of our savings and go bankrupt. I'm also thankful we learned a valuable lesson about SAVING MORE, spending less. (lisa lisa lisa lisa lisa lisa)

4. I'm so thankful John and I stuck together, supported each other, and weathered the storm that strengthened our marriage.

5. I'm so thankful I have lower back/hip pain and heartburn. It means I'm expecting a wonderful present this August . . . and I can't wait to snuggle him close to me.

6. I'm so thankful for Megan who melts my heart with her sweetness every day.

7. I'm so thankful for my family and friends. They supported us through this tough time by bringing groceries (thanks, mom - above and beyond the call of duty), giving us sound advice, calling/emailing often to check on us, etc. Thank you thank you thank you.

8. I'm so thankful I learned that if you just don't go to Gymboree, you just don't spend any money there. (My bank account feels so relieved!)

9. I'm so thankful for my awesome bloggy friends, one of whom gave me an award on her blog Tuesday. (I'll tell you all about that tomorrow!)

10. I'm so thankful I think I'll go to the cabin in NY this weekend to relax and finally sleep through the night without waking up in a panic.

(And, I'm so thankful I can afford the gas to get there!!!!!!!!)

YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!

I'm happy today!

What's Cookin' Wednesday

I'll share with you a recipe I love love love but hardly ever eat. Every time I even think about eating this recipe, I can hear my Nana say, "A moment on the lips a lifetime on the hips." (She usually says this while looking at my hips - so sweet.) I'm making this on Friday for my recipe club, since our theme is brunch. (I'm looking forward to Friday just so I can eat this.)

Of course, you can substitute reduced fat ingredients, but with 1 pound of sausage in the mix why bother?

Weight-Gainer Hashbrown Casserole

1 lb. sausage
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (10 ¾ oz.) cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 (8-oz.) container of French onion dip
1 large onion, chopped
¼ cup green bell pepper
¼ cup red bell pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 (30 oz.) package shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed

Preparation:
In a heavy skilled, cook the sausage until browned, breaking up as you stir and cook. Drain off excess grease. In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, French onion dip, chopped onion, chopped bell peppers, salt and pepper.

Fold in thawed hash brown potatoes. Mix well.
Spread half of the hash brown mixture over bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish. Spread half of the browned sausage over the hash browns. Repeat layering second half of hash brown mixture. Top with remaining sausage.

Bake at 350 for about 1 hour, until the casserole is hot and golden brown. While the casserole is cooking, go ride the exercise bike or do some Pilates. Your hips will need it when you’re done eating this dish. Yum!

Don't forget to dance while you cook! I've chosen a little video for you that will make you laugh. Enjoy!

And don't forget to shake that healthy butt!

Lisa's got back!

We're Having a . . .

B - O - Y !!!!!!

Holy moly, it is a boy. A boy! I'm having a boy.

I'm gonna withhold the "money shot" in an effort to preserve his dignity.

Here he is waving at you in 4-D.

The ultrasound tech said he is very big and actually thinks I'm due a week sooner. That would make me 19 weeks preggo instead of 18. Heck, a week less of being pregnant in August. I'll take it!!

He has 10 fingers and 10 toes, and everything looks perfectly formed (some things are bigger than others, if you catch my drift.) 100% boy, that's what she said, no doubt about it! John is so proud.

Megan refuses to accept this latest development and continues to call him "Caroline."
A boy named Caroline. Hmmmmm . . . that's not gonna work.

I am in serious need of boy names. Names we like so far:
Brendan, Noah, Nicholas

John hates "soap opera" names and I hate boring, plain sounding names.

Wanna help?

Where There Is a Will, There Is Always A Way!

Wanna see my little baby bump?

Here I am at 17 1/2 weeks. (Looking chubby but excited!)

So, do you want to hear some good news?????

Ever since I had to cancel my appointment at Ultrasona to find out the sex of the baby (remember . . . John = laid off) I've been racking my brain trying to think of a way to raise a hundred dollars. (I'm really, really terrible at waiting and my ob doesn't do another ultrasound until 24 weeks! That's like a million years away!)

At first, I thought . . . I only need to convince 100 people to give me a dollar. Then I could afford the ultrasound. Brilliant plan! (John just looked at me funny when I told him about this plan.) Then I decided if I was going to go around begging people for a dollar, it should go toward some worthy cause or someone who truly needed a hundred dollars. Sometimes a conscience is very inconvenient!

Then, in the middle of the night, I had an aha moment! (I thought those only happened while watching Oprah but I was so, so wrong!)

We happen to have money in our flexible spending account from John's old employer that we must use within 60 days or lose. Money that must be spent on a medical expenses and only medical expenses!!!!!!!! Ultrasounds are medical expenses. Ultrasounds are medical expenses. Ultrasounds are medical expenses!!!! (I love aha moments.)

Wooooooo hooooooooo!!! Ultrasona here we come.

I called Ultrasona and asked for the first possible appointment. The lady said this Monday at 1:45 pm. I said, "Ahhh. Do you have anything sooner?" (Today is Saturday. Me=impatient) She said, "How's Monday at 10 am?"

"Much better" I replied.

He or she??? To be continued on Monday!!!!!!!!

Tacky Costume Alert

World's Ugliest Dance Costume EVER . . .

Seriously.

However, I must say . . . World's Cutest Kid!

Megan could make a potato sack look cute.

As a matter of fact, I think a potato sack might have been cuter than the shiny, brown crushed velvet in this little number. What in the world was the dance teacher thinking?

What.

was.

she.

thinking?????

I guess I'm bitter because that I look at the costume now and think, "Wow, that ugly costume cost a week's worth of groceries."

Costumes that are definitely worth a week's worth of groceries:
:)

And some people wonder what stay-at-home mom's do all day.

Duh . . . we are sitting around obsessing about ugly dance costumes all day.

What did you think we were doing??????

Please Pray Today

Would you help me today by remembering in your prayers my cousin Jim who is undergoing surgery for colon cancer today?

He has an adorable young son named Seamus and a gorgeous wife Cheryl. He seems much too young to be dealing with such a terrible illness.

Please go here to read more about the warning signs of colon cancer.

Wives, make an appointment for your husband to have a yearly physical.

(I have to do this every year for John. If I didn't, he would never go to the doctor.)

Thank you!