The Not Too Shabby Mom

Everyone complains there isn't enough realness on Facebook, Instagram, etc. So I am going to give you a snapshot into what I have accomplished today....so very little. Every person in our house is sick to like the tenth degree. We are all whiney, miserable, barking with coughs, dwindling our tissue supply by the moment. We are a family with no boundaries...you want to lick my spoon? - sure, baby wants a drink out of brother's sippy? - it happens, you want to rub your snotty face all over our bed pillows? - probably going to happen because we are too tired to care. Kolt and Klay do EVERYTHING together except sleep. They will either be best of friends when they are adolescents or hate each other. No happy medium. So needless to say we are all equally contaminated. My husband usually avoids these things because he works a ton of hours, but he has been on vacation and in the trenches this week. Meaning he legit got coughed in the face buckling a child into a carseat and hasn't...

Today on the way to Play School (think pre-pre school) I caught a glimpse of you in the back seat. All handsome and quietly looking out the window. How are we in this stage; where you now leave mommy to spend time with other adults and children while I run errands with your baby brother? Childhood, and parenthood for that matter, are just a string of stages we carefully, yet optimistically navigate. In your dad and my case case we tend to look back more than forward it seems. We were just lamenting the other night how, in what feels like days, your vocabulary has changed. No longer do you say "structions" (instructions) or "The kea" (Ikea). When we still use your toddler slang, you now correct us. You no longer wake in the night or give us much grief at bedtime. You are even allowing us to take your picture again. Quietly and swiftly we have moved into this preschool stage. This stage where you are becoming more and more independent. You wa...

Superbowl Sunday is here! We are opting for a low key night at home with our little guys vs our traditional bigger party with friends this year, but we will still break out a few decorations and eat all the yummy food though. Our 3 year old loves helping in the kitchen and this is a super easy, make ahead recipe he can help with. (Although it can get sticky.) This is a tried and true family recipe that I remember my mom making all the time. (My sister calls it Pink Dip!) (Don't we all cook in our underwear?) We will be having this with bananas, strawberries, apple slices and kiwi. (Also goes great with grapes) Makes plenty for leftover snacks this week as well. Enjoy! Ingredients: 8oz cream cheese, 7oz jar of marshmallow cream, maraschino cherries Mix the cream cheese (softened) with the jar of marshmallow cream, add some juice from the maraschino cherries. Cut some cherries into 4ths and mix in.  Kid approved!

  You likely do most of these items with the little ones in your family. But, here is our list to help keep you on track this season! Help each child pick out a gift for the other, wrap and place under the tree. (Get a gift for daddy as well.) Bake and decorate Christmas cookies or decorate a gingerbread house. Deliver Christmas cards and baked goods or candy to each neighbor on our street. Trips to the library to check out Christmas movies and books. Visit Santa and take an annual picture. Take in a Christmas parade. Watch multiple holiday movies at home (with cocoa and various treats). Make a holiday craft or two (for ideas check out my Pinterest board, Christmas Crafts for Kids ). As a family take a drive and enjoy the Christmas lights. Write a letter to Santa. Decorate the tree as a family. Move the Christmas countdown marker each morning. (My 3 year old's favorite) Open and hang up the holiday cards the family receives. Wear our C...

If there ever was a day to load the kids up, head to Target, give the kids a cart full of snacks and wander aimlessly with a Starbucks in hand, today would be that day. But, my son has a head cold and when I mentioned going to the grocery store or anywhere for staples he said he just wanted to stay home. I get it. When I am sick I just want to stay in my pjs and watch tv; not be forced out and about. But, every ounce of my being wants to leave the house. Because last week both my babies had a stomach bug. Even if it means loading up the double stroller, packing a bag, dressing 2 little ones, grabbing hats and hoodies for both. Planning an outing around naps and potty trips. You see it has been weeks since I have left the house by myself, so at this point I would do whatever. Going somewhere by myself is not asking someone if they are ok, not checking a diaper, not peering into the backseat at every stop and not keeping a death grip on my cart for fear a child abductor is watching my f...

This recipe originated from Emeals.  I purchased a meal plan system on Groupon right after Ethan and I moved in together years ago.  Basically they generate meals for a week and give you the shopping list.  Many of our favorite family recipes came from their plan. (Someone is always digging into my meals before I can snap a pic!) As I mentioned on Facebook and Instagram my husband works about 55hrs a week, as of late, so it is really hard to come up with meals that can be reheated when he gets home late in the evening.  This is why casseroles work out so well.  Plus with this one you can cut your vegetables earlier in the day and then it just takes minutes to assemble before baking.  My only changes are that I double the amount of noodles because it makes more and the dish feels more substantial.  This is a great recipe for holiday or get together leftovers. We use deli ham a lot of the time, but you could definitely chop up leftover cooked ha...