Family Update

While I am stuck at work until at least 6:00 I might as well, let everyone know how the kiddies are doing.

Let's start with Sir Damien. He will be 1 1/2 on the 21st. Only 3 more days! I decided to cut his hair about a week ago. It looks pretty good, I would say, considering I have absolutely no experience in cutting hair, not to mention his screaming and constant moving, because it was me, not a scary lady at the hairdresser. The first time he got his hair cut, (by someone else) he just sat there like an angel, but for mommy, no way. He still can't talk, but he does say a few words, such as rocky when he's on his rocking horse, Yucky, baby, Dada, hot...that's about it. But his is very smart, he knows all this body parts, some animal sounds and "motions", he can do the shapes in the Tupperware ball all by himself, and much more. He is also quite the little helper. He loves to pick out his own clothes and will even help put them away. He always gets me Kira's diapers and throws them away, as well as his own. He always has to put his dishes on the counter and can never let them just sit on the table, for a minute or two. Sometimes he's a little too helpful, but that's OK. Damien goes to the doctor in about 2 weeks, so we can see how much he's grown, which is exciting, because he is definitely a big big boy.

Now on to Miss Kira. She just turned 3 months old yesterday! She is quite large, I think. She is about the length of my waist to my shoulder...or maybe longer, that's just how she fit last night. She can sit up with a pillow behind her back without immediately falling to the side, which is fun. She giggles now and is a ticklish on the cheeks, chin, and ribs. She is also the best burper in the house. She loves to stand and look around. And she smiles at everyone she sees, especially her silly little brother giving her kisses all the time. She doesn't go to the doctor until next month, so no official weight or height stats.

Everyone is welcome to come over and visit at any time. Matt is home most days right now, and I only work until 4, most days, and Tuesday only til 1...so we are always available for people to come visit. Even if it is just to see the babies.

baked spaghetti. MMMM

We tried this one on monday night. I loved it! Everyone else seemed to like it as well.


Baked Spaghetti:
1 (8 ounce) package spaghetti, cooked
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 (24 ounce) carton ricotta cheese OR cottage cheese
1 pound ground beef
1 (25.75 ounce) jar Italian-Style spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with aluminum foil . Spray with non-stick cooking spray (coat well). Combine hot cooked spaghetti with butter; stir until butter melts and coats spaghetti. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; stir to coat. Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in foil-lined pan. Spread ricotta cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Brown ground beef, drain; add pasta sauce and heat until bubbly. Spoon over cheeses.Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil cover and continue baking 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

It's been awhile, we had this last night and Damien couldn't get enough.

Honey Glazed Ham:
1 (10 pound) fully-cooked, bone-in ham
1 1/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup pineapple juice
1/3 cup honey
1/3 large orange, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Place ham in a roasting pan. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, pineapple juice, honey, orange juice, orange zest, Dijon mustard, and ground cloves. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside. Bake ham in preheated oven uncovered for 2 hours. Remove ham from oven, and brush with glaze. Bake for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, brushing ham with glaze every 10 minutes.

I made a few changes. Matt bought a huge 12 lb uncooked ham, so we had to cook it for 3 hours and then the 2 for the recipe. We didn't have Dijon, so I used the spicy brown in the fridge, and we didn't have cloves, so we used ginger. Couldn't taste the ginger or mustard, so it worked out really well for me. We had broccoli and rolls. and for desser matt's mom brought a delicious peach pie, with her for dinner. MMMM.

we got this from momswhothink.com just like usual.

taco's

Wednesday we had Taco Skillet Supper. It was delicious in my opinion. Maybe a little less corn. Matt seemed to enjoy it and Damien, well he didn't eat well all day, so who knows. It's a nice alternitive to a boring taco. And, who doesn't love chips for dinner?

Skillet Taco Supper
1/2lb ground beef (we buy it in 1lb tubes, so i used the whole pound)
1 pk taco seasoning mix
2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 cups uncooked wagon wheel pasta (we used bowties...)
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 can (15 oz) kidney beans or pinto beans, drained, rinsed (No way did we use beans)
1 medium tomato copped
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives (we didn't use these)

in 12 in skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5-7 min. stiring frequently, until brown, drain. Stir seasoning mix, water, uncooked pasta, corn, beans, and tomato into beef. Heat to boiling; stir. reduce heat to med-low (i didn't think that little water would cook the noodles, but it did. have faith) Cover, cook 10-15 min, stirring occasionally, until pasta is done and most liquid is absorbed. stir in sour cream. remove from heat. sprinkle with cheese and chives. cover, let stand 2 to 3 min or until cheese is melted. serve with tortilla chips.

mmm tuna

For Dinner on Tuesday we had Tuna with Garlic Cheese Biscuits. Not any ones favorite, but really easy and maybe with a diff. veggie variety it would be better. I'm not so much a peas or green beans fan.

Tuna w/ garlic cheese biscuits
2 cans tuna drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cup veggies
1 1/4 cup Bisquick
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp butter, melted
1/8 tsp garlic powder

heat oven to 425. in 2 quart casserole dish mix tuna, soup, 2/3 cup milk, and veggies. cook uncovered 20 minutes. mix together Bisquick, cheese, 1/2 cup milk. spoon 6 biscuits onto hot tuna mixture. bake 10-12 min til biscuits are golden brown. mix butter and garlic, brush over warm biscuits.

this is also from www.momswhothink.com

What's For Dinner

We actually ate this for dinner on Saturday. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. I personally didn't think it tasted like alfredo, but it was still good. Matt said he liked it, which is weird since usually he says things like "it's ok, but....". Anyways, the recipe was super easy and it was tasty.

Chicken and Broccoli Alfred

8oz fettucini (I used the whole 16 oz package...it was ok, not as soupy as intended though)
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli. (had about 1 1/2 cups of frozen in the freezer, used it all)
2tbsp butter
1lb chicken chopped up
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1/4tsp pepper (didn't use)

Cook the noodles according the directions on the package. Add the broccoli in when there is about 4 min. left of cooking. Drain the pasta and set aside. Melt the butter in a large skillet and brown the chicken. Stir together the milk, cheese, soup, and pepper. Add to chicken and mix together. Add in the noodle mixture and stir. Cook until hot and bubbly. Eat.

Nice and easy. We had it with rolls. My rolls didn't rise for the first time ever though, so those were not good at all.

I got this recipe from www.momswhothink.com/dinner-recipes/dinnerideas.html

Kira

Well, I haven't updated this in ages, I guess I'm not very good at this blog business. Anywho, Kira was born on June 17th via induction, just as planned. It took forever, and I was stupid. I eventually came to my senses and got the darn epidural instead of trying to go without. I just don't handle pain very well at all. Kira was 7lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long. so if she would have come out on her due date she would have weighed about 8lbs 8 oz...i'm glad we had her early. At her two week check up she had grown about 1/2 inch and was 8lbs 9 oz. So she was getting nice and big. we won't get to check her growth again until the 18th of august when she has her two month appt. She can now hold her head up and lift it off the bed when she lays on her stomache. Go Baby!

Damien is getting much better, he doesn't hit her on the head near as much as he used to which is always good news. He gives her hugs, which at times are a little rough, but he just doesn't understand that she is fragile and not like mommy and daddy. He'll get there.

Lately for dinner I've been trying out a bunch of new recipes and am going to keep doing so, instead of always eating the so easy and delicious spaghetti, because it's easy. I think I will start posting the recipes and their source, since I don't make my own, and I will put our comments on after we eat them. This will me much more updated, I know that already. And then maybe I'll add some updates for the family as well.