jack!

We had Jack's 2nd birthday yesterday. There was a -large- cake fiasco but in the end, it was okay.

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It was bittersweet for me. It's so hard for me to be so far from my family at time like this. I would love for MY family to be able to be here and share these memories. It literally tears my heart out to have to celebrate milestones without them. Holidays, birthdays, celebrations....

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My in-laws came. That, in itself, is a miracle. It was hard for me to celebrate without Nea. I never thought the day would come without her here. Erin came, with her 4 kidlets and husband, and got to stay all night! It really meant a lot to me that she was there. We had a few no-call and no-shows, which really hurt my feelings. (meaning people who had said they were coming and just didn't show up....no call, nothing. nice)

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I just can't beleive my little baby is 2! He loves to tell everyone he is "twoooooo!" and he is hilarious. I can't beleive he is blossoming into such a little boy.

easy shredded chicken sandwiches

I have been making these pretty often and we love them! Easy and little fuss.

In a crockpot, put enough liquid to cover thawed chicken breasts (boneless). I use a boullion cube, dissolved, sometimes 2 if I am making a lot. Or chicken stock. Or whatever.

Cook on high for 1.5 - 2 hrs, or on low for 3-4 hrs. Once cooked, cool slightly and shred with a fork...basically just mooshing with a fork. Remove leftover liquid and add chicken back to the crockpot and add one sleeve of crushed crackers (Ritz-type crackers. generic is fine, too! :) ) Slowly add liquid back until desired consistency is reached.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep on low setting unti lready to eat.

Yum!

Dear Jackson,

Today you are two. I simply can't beleive the time has passed and you are steps closer to becoming a big boy.

You are my sweet little baby. You give the best hugs, the sweetest kisses, and the nicest pats on the back. You laugh like every thing in the world is hilarious, and once in a while I can hear those familiar "baby sounds" when you are eating, sleeping, or just simply crying.

You are my charming big boy. Your words are blossoming every day, and all your important words end with an "eeeeeeeeeeeeeee" that travels up at the end. It's so funny. You are smitten with your "mama" and adore your "dada." You love "noons" and "booooats." Kole is your favorite person. You adore the kitties and you are borderline abusive to the dog.

You like to spin, jump, and run. You are not a good dancer. You are brave and adventureous. You certainly know what you like in life, and what you don't. You hate button-up shirts but adore your sweatshirts. Your love for animals is endearing and you hardly play with your toys.

I often think to myself that if I could just keep you at one age for a long time, I would. But the problem is that when I try to think of what stage I would keep you at, I can't decide. Each stage is getting better than the last, and I can't even imagine the joy you will bring in the upcoming years.

You were the simplest, easiest baby. You smelled like vanilla and you were so good to me. You never made me doubt myself as a mother, everything came so easy to the both of us and you never gave me a hard time.

You were the cutest toddler. You were so endearing, and every time you met a stranger, they fell for you. You never struggled and were pretty easygoing. The world adores you, and you know it.

And now you are a charming little boy. I can't imagine a second without you. You have given me meaning and purpose to my life and I take every breath for you. You are a gift and an angel and sometimes a little devil.

I love every.single.thing.about.you.

one day old

one year old

two years old!

happy valentine's day

because love is just the icing on the cake.

have a great day!

(pproperty of erinjohnsonphotography.com)

valentine's day lovin'

my mom and i always made sugar cookies for every holiday. they are SO good, so homemade, so absolutely perfect for munchin'.

yum. enjoy.

(straight from betty crocker)

1 1/2 C powdered sugar

1 C butter, softened at room temp

1 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

2 1/2 C flour

1 tsp cream of tartar

mix sugar, butter, vanilla and egg. stir in remaining ingredients.

cover and refridgerate at LEAST 2 hours.

divide dough and work between hands until slightly warm. roll on floured surface with floured rolling pin. cut out with desired shapes, sprinkle with sugar or decorations.

bake at pre-heated 375 degree oven, on baking sheets that have been treated with cooking spray. bake 7 minutes, or slightly longer until edges are slightly browned.

cool on wire racks.

wow - time flies!

two years ago today, i was due to have a baby.


this day came and went, despite walking, mexican pizza from taco bell, and, well........ewwwwwwwww.

i can't wrap my head around the fact that my baby is almost 2.

(insert emotional breakdown)

easter egg / holiday tree!

my mom made an easter egg tree like this when i was little. i remember her and i going through the woods and finding the sticks, painting them, and potting them. she still has that tree, over 25 years later. i wanted one for your family. i beleive ours needs a little pruning, but it will be there soon!

isn't he cute?

here we go again!

what is that?

if your answer is an-almost-2-year-old standing in his crib, one leg out of his jammies, holding his diaper, and shouting in a loud voice and standing on a peepee-soaked mattress, then you win the prize!!

now you see how my life has been going lately. yikes.

i am loving it

i have the windows open and it's cool outside.....and the house is filled with that new-spring-air smell. even though i know it's not spring yet, and we likel have a lot more snow to come.....but it has lifted my spirits and made me happy today. :)

fun times!

i have been crafting like mad lately - and loving it! orders are coming in for shirts and i can hardly keep up (http://www.savvysarahdesigns.blogspot.com/). it's been fun!

we have been re-painting our family room, and bought a new couch. we are moving furniture around and it looks really different! i love it! we should start the kitchen in teh next few days....cabinets too! and finally, marc has decided to let me (or let himself) put knobs on the cabinet doors.

one of my resolutions this year was to fill our house with pictures. i ordered a few today that will be cute on our new (or, newly arranged) shelves and i am super excited! when both of your bff's are phenomonal photographers (and only ONE lives in town *cough nea cough get your ass back here cough* how could you NOT want your house littered with pictures like these?

fun weekend!

went to 2 rocking birthday parties this weekend! it was fun.

the first was at The Little Gym. it was great!

the second was at one of my bff's erin's house! she is the best party person....she had an awesome candy buffet (which my husband took a doggie bag for!!!) and great food. her parties are always so laid back and fun. of course, my son was a whirlwind of energy.

on the way home, my husband was talking about the babies that were there (jake, adam, weston, and of course, little miss madeline) and he told me that he felt like jack was never a baby like those babies. like he was always a little kid, like he is now. sad....

i would post pics, but i seem to have left my camera......boo.