Freezer Cooking

A few months ago I was introduced to a website called Pinterest.  It's basically a place to keep different ideas you come across when searching the internet. You "pin" things that "interest" you..."pinterest".   I love finding new recipes and ideas for the home.  One of my friends had posted a something she found about freezer crock pot meals.  This looked interesting and after mentioning it to Kenny we decided to try it.  I used this website for ideas: http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-cooking.html

We bought the ingredients for 6 meals, which is actually 12 meals because each one was put into 2 bags.  Here's the before picture: 

We made: Savory Chicken, Teriaki Chicken, Healthy BBQ Chicken, Lazy Day Beef Stew, Sausage and Peppers, and Sweet and Tangy Meatballs.  Here's what it looked like when we were done. 

The night before you want to cook it, you take one bag out of the freezer and let it defrost over night.  The next morning, you dump the entire contents of the bag into the crock pot and follow the directions.  I was going to do one today, but I forgot to take a bag out of the freezer last night...oops!  We'll try one tomorrow.  
If this works out well, I think we may try again.  There are so many recipes on the internet and one other blogs that looked delicious too!

What a week!

It's hard to believe that it's already Friday.  My mom came to visit this week and we had such a good time, but it went too fast.  On Sunday, I picked her up from the airport.  We got home and about 30-45 minutes later, the snow started falling giving us our first big snowfall of the year.  I think there was about 8 inches in all.  Mom worries about the weather so I was thankful that her flights were great and the bad weather didn't come until after she got here.  

Watching the snow falling

9pm and it's still coming down

On Tuesday, we went to story time at the library.  I hadn't gone by myself with the girls yet. I wanted to go with someone and check it out, making sure I could get in with a double stroller if I wanted to go by myself.  We had fun and the girls loved the books and the songs.  

We decided to go out to lunch on Wednesday.  The girls do so well when we go to a restaurant.  I think they like watching all the people.  Jenna loves to wave at everyone, even if they're not looking at her!  

Yesterday, it was about 65 degrees, a big change from Sunday!  We took the girls to the park.  There are several parks in Waynesboro, but I really like a small one about 5 minutes from our house.  There was only one other child there with his mother.  The last time the girls were in a swing was around 7 or 8 months and they both fit in together.  This time, they were by themselves and LOVED it!!  

  

Jenna

Grandma and Rachel

I'm so happy that my mom was able to come down this week.  It's fun to see her playing with Jenna and Rachel. They even started saying "Ba-ba" when I would ask them to say "grandma."  This morning they were looking for her and we're all sad she's gone.  Hopefully we'll see her and my dad in April!

Mid February with lots of photos

As I try to come up with a catchy title, all I can think of is "Sick Kiddos...still", but I'll just use something generic. Jenna's still coughing sometimes and now Rachel has a stomach bug.  Poor babies.  It's so hard to see them sick.  We've had plans for play dates and plans to visit people but most have been postponed, either from one of us not feeling well, or our friends not feeling well.  I'm excited that warmer weather will be coming and hopefully we can have a week or two (or more) of some health around here!!  

Kenny celebrated his birthday last Friday.  I made my mom's delicious Beef Burgandy and had his favorite German chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting.  The babies loved the meal and even got a little cake too.  

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Valentine's Day was uneventful as I was feeling lousy.  I think I had some sort of stomach bug that thankfully only lasted for about a day.  

Even if they're not feeling well, the girls continue to make me smile and laugh every day.  They are really becoming good friends and enjoy playing together.  One of their newest thing to do it to go up to each other and sweetly bump heads as a sign of affection.  A few times, I've been head-butted pretty hard but it always turns into a sweet nuzzle.  

Valentine's day head bumps

The girls (especially Rachel) are becoming quite adventurous and love to get into things.  They've learned how to open cupboards, take the DVDs off the shelves, and open the wipe container.  We've put gates up to keep them somewhat contained but I still feel like I'm chasing them all the time.  It will be crazy when they start walking! 

They love wearing hats around the house.  These sweet hats and sweaters were made for them and given to me at my baby shower.  

"Ta da!"

A few more February pictures:

Jenna's checking Daddy's heartbeat

 

"I love putting the rings on my feet!"

Sick Kiddos (and some new photos too!)

I wrote to someone last week saying, "wouldn't it be easier if both girls were sick at the same time, instead of passing illnesses back and forth?"  Well, I'm not sure if it's easier, but I sure do love all the momma snuggle time I've been getting lately.  Last week, Jenna got a high fever which came on suddenly.  It continued to go up after coming down with medicine until Friday when she was absolutely miserable.  The pediatrician did a thorough check-up complete with a nose swab, something to clean wax out her ear, and a catheter to check for a kidney infection.  She cried the entire time and I started crying as I held her while the catheter was placed.  No diagnosis as all tests were negative but I was told if a rash shows up, it is most likely a viral disease called roseola.  On Saturday morning, a rash began appearing and by Sunday it was all over her tummy, back, neck and face. So, it's probably roseola.  

Hard to see, but the rash is on her chest and face.

She still is acting sleepy and irritable and wants to be held. I hope she's getting better!  Rachel seemed fine at the doctor's office on Friday but developed a high fever Friday night.  It didn't stick around, but now she has so much congestion and a terrible runny nose.  We didn't get out much this month.  Rachel had a cold earlier in the month.  Sleepy, irritable babies aren't much fun to take anywhere.  


On a lighter note, I was looking through some pictures I took and found these:

Happy Jenna!

Rachel loves to put EVERYTHING in her mouth.  That's a mitten.

The sweaters they're wearing were mine when I was a baby.  Cute!

  

 We've been moving away from pureed food and having the girls eat more of what we're eating.  They love having a plate and have started using the spoon! 

New Videos

The girls are really starting to use their push toys for walking.  These videos are from January 10.  

In my previous post, I wrote about some of the sounds and words the girls are saying now.  We tried to get a few on video.  This is from January 14: 

I also wrote about the baby using  signs.  Tonight at dinner, they were doing some.  

Look Who's Talking

In the past two weeks, I have realized that I no longer have babies, but I have soon-to-be-toddlers.  
Each day, they are understanding more and more and trying to say new words all the time.  Jenna and Rachel are both showing new emotions like anger and frustration. There are times when they fight over the same toy.  I have seen one or two temper tantrums that have been easily stopped when given a different toy.  They are also starting to play games like hiding behind a curtain and peeking out or hiding around a corner and peeking out...kind of an advanced peek-a-boo.  I love watching them understand simple commands such as "Kiss your sister" or "Snuggle with mommy."  
This week we've been working on animal sounds.  Both girls can "moo", "baa", "ssss", and they're trying to say "meow" and "woof".  I need to get a video!
Some of the words Jenna says: Mama, Dada, Bear, Buh (Ball), Cup, Nigh-Nigh, Cat.  She tries to imitate lots of words I say.  
Rachel often quietly whispers words but I know she says: Mama, Dada, Boo (Balloon), Ki (Kitty), Buh (Bear).  If I ask her to sing, she say "Na, Na, Na or La, La, La" in a sing-song voice.  She was singing today during the Anthem at church!
I've researched and started some Baby Signs with the girls.  They understand and sign: Eat, More, and All Done.  We're working on Milk and Please.  


A Blog post is never complete without some pictures.  We had a birthday party for Jenna and Rachel on January 7.  I was so thankful that my friend, Angie, took lots of pictures.  We had a great time. 

One Year of "Bear" Pictures

I had seen baby pictures through the first year with some sort of prop to show the monthly growth in that year.  Kenny's sister, Amy, made these teddy bears for the girls and I thought that they were perfect for the monthly pictures.  Here are 2 collages with months 1-12 (I forgot to use the bear in month 2).

Jenna's pictures

Rachel's pictures

I tried taking pictures at the end of a LONG day, full of excitement.  The girls look pretty sleepy. 

December 2010 with Grandma and Grandpa

December 2011 with Grandma and Grandpa