Blessings

It is safe to say today did not go as planned. We were supposed to go to the San Diego Safari Park with some friends this morning. Billy Blazes from Rescue Heroes was going to be there and H was excited to get to meet him. We didn't make it. On the way there we got into a car accident. It was raining, a dog bolted into the road, and things didn't work like they should have. Still, despite the unfortunate events, we are all okay. My boys and I are fine. There appeared to be minimal damage to the other car and the other people involved seemed ok. Husband was home to come and help, and our friends were able to help too. We got the carseats loaded up, the kids loaded up, the car towed, the insurance called, and we went home. We still had a good lunch. Our friends took H for the afternoon. The twins and I napped. Now, the boys and I are done with dinner and watching The Lion King. We are EXTREMELY blessed. I am thankful that, while today didn't go as planned, we are all healthy and alive. I am thankful that something as terrible as a car accident resulted in no injuries (including the dog). We have lots to do and figure out. We will have to buy a new car or pay to fix the current one, but none of that is important. I am blessed and I am glad to be home with my boys!

New Recipes

I've been trying out some new recipes lately. I found a recipe for Cilantro-Lime Chicken and some rice to go with it and I made that for dinner last night. Then I found a recipe for Vegetable Tian and I can't wait to make it. Next, I found a recipe for Cherry Vanilla Muffins, and I just finished making those.

All this fun cooking and I am so excited for how yummy it is and how we are trying to eat healthier. I haven't tasted the chicken yet, but everyone who did said it was yummy. So, here are the links if you want to try:

Cilantro-Lime Chicken (I baked mine instead of pan-frying it)
Fiesta Lime Rice (I didn't have any precooked rice, so I used this recipe and made it with brown rice, I didn't add the salt or the extra lime in the Fiesta Lime Rice recipe)
Vegetable Tian (still haven't made this, but have everything ready to do so tonight or tomorrow)
Cherry Vanilla Muffins (I used fat free greek yogurt, applesauce instead of oil, and no lemon or granola).

Here are a few pictures of my muffins.

The cherries (this batch had 21 pairs of twins). 

They are super yummy and very light in flavor

Edited to add a warning - these muffins can be addicting. Be warned that if you make mini-muffins they will disappear quickly!

Presents

So, I recently created some faux subway art using Microsoft Word and the wordart tool. After creating it, I cut some scrapbook paper down to 8 1/2 x 11 and printed it on. I LOVE how it turned out. I want to show a picture, but I can't. Unfortunately, I created it for a special gift for Christmas (yes, I know it's July) and I can't risk ruining the surprise.

I will say though, I am so excited about this. I may have to start doing stuff like this more often. Now, I just need to find a frame like I want, and wait. I hate waiting, but this is going to be absolutely worth it!

Two Babies

From the time we had the twins, this was our constant saying, "two babies." After they were born, it became our explanation/comment/etc. for everything. When Husband would leave he'd ask what to do with the baby he was holding, I'd look down at the one in my arms and say, "oh, two babies." When we got too little sleep (well, when I did anyway), the reason - two babies. When H would be asked how many babies he had, "two babies." Now, I look at my two babies, and they are so big. They were such tiny little babies (normal sized for their age, but still tiny) and here we are 19 months later with two toddlers who walk, climb, run, play, bite, eat more than their big brother, and soak everything up around them. With the exception of talk, there is little they don't do. They both love their big brother and they love to play with him and each other (as long as no one is taking toys from one another they're usually happy). Today I was helping Husband get something out of the garage. As I walked back to the back door they were both standing at it waiting for me to come in and all I could think was two babies (and wish I had my camera in my pocket). I am so happy to have these two babies. These boys (along with their big brother) make my life so much more everything (happy, complicated, busy...). I cannot imagine life without them.

G and J in hospital - 5 lb. 13 oz. and 6 lb. 3 oz.

April 2010

Sept. 2010

Jan. 2011

April 2011

July 2011

Featured

I'm super excited to say that my wallet is being featured on StitchSteals blog today (http://stitchsteals.blogspot.com/2011/07/feature-you-friday-family-resemblance.html). I can't even tell you how excited I am.

Giveaway

One of the blogs I follow, Happily Home Sewn, currently has a giveaway going on that ends tomorrow. The giveaway is a gift card for her etsy shop. She has super adorable clothes/hats for babies and toddlers, as well as some other cute items. Click here to be taken there and enter.

Embrace the Camera

It's been a while since I've posted with this. Here are some recent pictures of me and my boys (and one of H and his daddy).

H and Daddy at the wedding

H and I - we were on our way to the "candy" bar

Whoops, I forgot to take the zoom off. 

G and J with me

Me and J

Me and G

I'll be linking up with the Anderson Crew.

The Wallet

There is a wallet tutorial at the Lola Nova blog (also found through pinterest) that I decided to make one day. I knew it would be quick and I wanted to do some sewing. I had purchased some fabric from www.stitchsteals.com that is too girly for my boys (but not for me or my nieces) and knew it would be perfect. The ribbon sewn on the front and for the closure are from American Crafts and were purchased on www.craftysteals.com. Let me just say, I love it. I can't wait to make more of these (and alter the pattern just a smidge so I can have a section that holds dollar bills (not that I ever have any) and give them away as gifts). 

Outside

Inside (sorry for the dark picture)

Closure

Craftiness

I said I was behind, and it's true.

Last Friday we had a rehearsal dinner to go to. Most of my clothes don't fit right (too small/too big). Losing weight after babies is never easy (I know that's a cop-out when the babies are 19 mo.) but when you lose just a few pounds it means your an odd size and clothes don't fit right. Anyway, moving on. I decided to try and make a shirt for me to wear that would be cute and stylish, but also fit. I found a tutorial through pinterest  from Cut Out and Keep and bought a shirt at the goodwill to give it a try. As is always true, I changed things a bit, but followed most of these directions. When I completed the collar I thought this would be the cutest shirt ever.

Sadly, it doesn't fit me right (story of my life). I've thought about trying to add darts to help, but alas, I don't feel like it. The moment has passed. I am now going to put it on a smaller friend of mine and alter it to fit her. She works in an office and will now have a cute shirt (we hope) to wear someday soon. Still, I feel proud of having done it and followed the directions (sort of). Perhaps another day I'll try again and it will work.

The Fourth

I've been meaning to blog lately, but that just hasn't happened. 

Our Fourth of July was spent at home as a family. Husband had to work that evening, so it was very low key. I had several fun things for the boys to do/play with, but I was also behind on taking pictures. H got to paint using a box, globs of paint, and balls. The result is supposed to be kind of like a firework, but he mainly when up and down with the balls so it's more like stripes. 

H helped put the paint on this picture :)

I made pinwheels for the boys - they were huge and and would not fit on the straws I had so that prompted a trip to the Dollar Tree to find something suitable. We ended up using back scratchers. I also picked up some buckets for future trips to the beach and as soon as we got home the boys were in the backyard digging. 

J

H

G

After Husband left we had a simple dinner of fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese. The boys played with balloons that had some rice in them and ribbon tails (they're weighted when you throw them and are supposed to be kind of like rockets). 

G

Hours of fun for cheap. 

I thought about doing fireworks, but 3 on 1 aren't good odds and I knew the twins would be super tired if I let them stay up that late. They went to bed and H and I caught a few glimpses of large fireworks through a neighbors tree (big show far away, no fire danger to us). It was fun, and while I would have enjoyed the fellowship with others, I'm glad it was a low key family thing.