The reason I love my life

It's amazing the things I look back on now that used to be chores and so time consuming and not fun at all that are now things that I love to do and that calm me. For instance, cooking/baking, I used to not mind doing an occasional dinner or dessert, but it wasn't something I loved to do and I definitely hated the mess it made as well as the clean up afterwards... now that I'm a wife and mom I love to cook/bake. It relaxes me. I can forget about the stresses of my day and just focus on the food. I love the reaction I get when the meals turn out amazing and the ones that fail produce funny faces too... and I don't even mind doing the dishes if the dishwasher is already empty :) 

When the children were little everything was a chore, even going outside to play took 15 minutes of planning and preparing... now with them a bit older I love our outings and adventures. They are so independent and can do so much more on their own. It is fun to see them learn about and enjoy new things.  

Capri sunds used to be one of my favorites drinks as a kid especially after a little league game, but knowing how messy they can be I had never bought them for the twinkies, we went to a birthday party this past weekend and it was all they had, so I told the kiddos at least 4 times before giving them their drink and probably 10 times while drinking them NOT TO SQUEEZE! Well they are so smart that they not once squeezed it and I was so proud of them.

When I was a kid rarely did we go out to fast food or have time to stay and play in the pits and it was something I never thought I'd let our children do, but the joy in their faces when they get the chance to climb and jump all over the place is indescribable... so we have gone to McDonalds a few times for play time and a Happy Meal and it always ends in smiles on both the twinkies and the parents faces.

We were taught young that taking care of our bodies was important, and so with the help of Uncle AJ we have been teaching the kids the fundamentals of being healthy, including, push ups, sit ups, wall sits (seen above) running/walking, and much more! It's not uncommon for us all to be dancing around like crazy people at 8:00pm to 80's or current music. The kids are already developing a sense of style in their music choice.

Talent! Go Uncle AJ

Chicken Fights... more important lessons in life that I learned at an early age... this match was a draw...

This photo is just to show off the awesome Twins hats we all have, yes I have one too, but didn't want to be in the photo, so this is the perfect shot! What a stylish group if I do say so myself!

Life in the Blackwood home is great, we are all working hard, playing hard, and relaxing at every spare moment that passes our way. Life is trying at times, but in the end we have each other and that is what matters. If nothing else I hope I can teach my children by my actions that family is the most important thing in life and that family is the one thing that will always be a constant in their lives. 

Cajun Sausage and Shrimp Alfredo Fettucini

Due to the volume of requests for my anniversary dinner choice tonight recipe I decided to just post it here on my blog... I'm making it in about 2 hours (although I've made it multiple times before) so I hope others try it out and enjoy it like me! I will be serving it with a side of garlic bread... So excited for dinner and for dessert, a spice cake with cream cheese frosting!

Cajun Sausage and Shrimp Alfredo Fettucini

(Not my picture, but I wanted this posted this morning to make up for missing it Friday and I'm making this tonight so this online photo will have to do... hehe )

Ingredients

1 pound peeled and cooked medium-size shrimp
1 (12-ounce) package fettuccine
1/2 pound Andouille sausage, chopped
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons salt-free Cajun seasoning
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 ounces pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed
3/4 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Prepare fettuccine according to package directions; drain pasta, and set aside.

Cook sausage in a large pan over medium heat 10 minutes or until browned; remove sausage, and drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan. Set sausage aside
.
Melt butter in drippings in pan over medium heat. Add shrimp, and cook 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp, and keep warm.

Add onion and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat 10 minutes.

Stir in Cajun seasoning and flour. Cook over medium heat, 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Gradually stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Boil 1 minute.

Reduce heat to medium-low, and stir in heavy cream; cook over medium-low heat 8 minutes or until mixture simmers.

Add pasteurized cheese cubes, sausage, and shrimp, stirring until cheese melts.

Stir in chopped green onions, Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley. Serve over hot cooked fettuccine.

Twinkies Update

Ryan Lukas

-Favorite Meal: Chicken, French fries, applesauce and chocolate milk

-Favorite Toy: Balls or cars

-Favorite Activity: Playing ball or running/jumping/climbing

-Favorite Phrase: "I ungy *slurp slurp" (I hungry momma) or "I wie off _____ kisses" (I wipe off "momma's" kisses, or whomever kissed him)

-Time he wakes up: 7am at the latest

-Shoes he likes to wear: Nike sandals ( http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pwp,c-1+100701/hf-4294961716+50144/#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-283991/pgid-395558 )

-Style Statement: Shorts and tank tops

-Potty training progress: None! (this kid is too lazy)

- Newest accomplishment: Counting to 11 on his own

-Newest trick: Somersaults 

Randi Lynn

-Favorite Meal: Salad and yogurt

-Favorite Toy: dolls, strawberry shortcake or books

-Favorite Activity: combing hair or caring for her babies

-Favorite Phrase: (when I'm mad or scolding them) "No momma, you be happy!" or any phrase tattling on brother

-Time she wakes up: 7am-7:30am

-Shoes she likes to wear: sliver flip flops ( http://www.payless.com/store/product/detail.jsp?catId=cat10090&subCatId=cat310004&skuId=089208095&productId=69275&lotId=089208&category=&catdisplayName=Girls -in silver)

-Style Statement: Girly (is that a style?) princess shirts, dora shirts, skirts, dresses, etc.

-Potty training progress: DONE and has been for about 6 months

- Newest accomplishment: Singing everything... and knowing the words to most of their kid songs

-Newest trick: dressing herself and undressing (nope neither of my kids have done this until now)

July includes heat, rain, and chores

We love summer, we love water, we love bubbles! Recently I had a work party/BBQ and there was sprinklers, slip n slide, kiddo pool, bubbles, balls, and all sorts of fun stuff to entertain the kids, which definitely kept the rest of us entertained. Even some of the ladies from work got in on the slip n slide!

Ryan takes his bubble blowing very seriously and when he was out of bubbles it was close to causing a break down, that was until he stole some more bubbles and started all over again!

Carl helped our kiddos slide... they didn't quite get the run then slide thing, they would run, stop, drop and not understand why they weren't sliding, so daddy came to the rescue and helped them along their way... they loved it!

We have had multiple crazy storms and I'd say at least 2-3 times a month our power goes out, so we are very familiar with candle light and flash lights... This particular night the kids were just loving their flashlights that even after the lights came back on we kept the lights off and continued to play in the dark. It was fun and when it came time to blow out candles and get into bed they were great helpers with lending all their hot air :)

Cuddling during movies at night before bedtime is becoming a ritual, we usually split one kid to each parent but lately they have really loved cuddling with daddy. Maybe I stink, I'm not sure... but it's so cute to see him be such an amazing daddy that I don't mind.

We have SO much work to do on our outside... when we bought our home it hadn't been lived in in over 8 months so we have had our work cut out for us this summer. This particular patch I cannot keep weeded! I have hand weeded it at least three times, I hoe it regularly, we've sprayed it.... so now I just don't know what else to do, but the kids have fun taking turns weeding :)

After all that hard work they get to cool off by watering our "salsa garden" and themselves a bit too... our plants are growing nicely and we have 3 peppers that have already started to grow! I am so excited to make my first batch of salsa!

Finally when we shop we all help bring things in from the car, yep, even the kiddos. They love to help! It's so cute when they want to take more than one bag like daddy and mommy, luckily since these items were so big it took them a good amount of time to get them in. They were so proud of themselves afterwards and so were we. We just know we have to appreciate the work now because once the "teens" hit we will probably have to pull their teeth to get them to help out! haha

July has been very hot, we had multiple days of over 110 heat index and that lead to many pool and sprinkler days, but mostly staying OUT of the direct sunlight and heat to try and stay hydrated. When we do go outside it's late, sometimes even at 8pm just before bedtime to get some last energy out but prevent the sweating and direct sunlight. It's definitely been one scorching summer! We are all looking forward to fall coming... but it's not coming soon enough for a few members of this household! 

Chicken, Veggie, Stuffing Bake

Chicken, Veggie, Stuffing Bake

(I don't have creative names for my made up food)

Ingredients:

1 box stuffing (I buy the whole wheat chicken stuffing)

2 chicken breasts diced (can use precooked if you want to cut down time)

1 1/2 C diced onion

1 1/2 C broccoli florets

1 1/2 C diced yellow summer squash

1 can cream of chicken with herbs

salt & pepper to taste

Pre-heat over to 400 degrees F

In skillet add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil

Add 1 1/3 C water to 3 qt pot for stuffing and while completing next task make stuffing according to box

Add chicken to skillet, cook 4-5 minutes

Add veggies, sprinkle on salt and pepper, cook another 4-5 minutes

Add cream of chicken

Pour mixture into 9x13 pan
Spread stuffing on top of mixture
Put in over for 10-15 minutes

You can sprinkle cheese on top or leave it be and just enjoy!

(This has now taken the place of another dish inside of Carl's Top Ten favorite home cooked meals! Pretty impressive I think... you would too if you knew his other choices!)