Luke's Construction Birthday Party!

In March we celebrated Luke turning 4! The theme was construction and we had a blast with everyone that showed up. I hope you enjoy the photos! A bunch of the decorations were homemade while others were bought over time. I usually begin planning the parties about 2 months in advance. That gives me time to purchase items and save money rather then buying all at once taking a chunk out of our bank account.

If you have any questions regarding any items you see please feel free to comment below and I'd be happy to help!

Gift Station.

Cake that I made. 

Bathroom sign.

Birthday Sign. Shared Luke's favorite things, what he loves, silly things he says, and how many teeth he has. Photos around the sign were from the day he was born to most recently. 

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Drink Station

Kids were giving wooden car kits to construct, paint, and decorate

Luke checking out his cake. He loved it! 

Each food item had a construction sign label (chicken wing dip= wet cement) but I forgot to get a photo of those.

It's Been a While.

So it has definitely been a while since I have created a blog post! I'm hoping that now that the twins are older I will have more time to focus again on this. So lets play catch up?

The last blog post I made was in August 2014, since then a lot has happened. We celebrated Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, & Luke's 4th birthday, Madison will be 3 the end of this month, the twins will be turning one next month and have been hitting plenty of milestones.

We got some good snow this winter so the kids built a snowman with daddy!

Cold winter nights call for hot coca, pretzels, and a movie!

Maddie is obsessed with ballerinas.

She approves this message.

Madison has been potty trained (day and night) for a few months now. Thank goodness! 

MacKenzie can stand unassisted for a good amount of time. She will be walking soon!

The crawl around and get into anything and everything they can. 

The girls eat table food and love it! 

Riley pulls her self up and stands while holding onto things but not unassisted yet.

Riley is such a ham! She is the laid back one between the girls. MacKenzie is more serious.

Easy Home Made Donuts!

Earlier this month a Dunkin' Donuts was opened in town. Today I had the hankering for a good doughnut and some ice coffee; so instead of going out and spending money I decided to make my own! The kids loved them so they must be good. haha!

Ingredients

1 Can of Buttermilk Biscuits (use any kind EXCEPT flaky)
Oil
Stick of Butter melted in a bowl
Cinnamon & Sugar in a bowl (as much as you'd like)

Directions

Add oil to a pan, about 1/2in deep and heat it up on medium heat.
While that is heating up, cut holes into each biscuit. I used a water canteen top, but use anything you find.
When the oil is ready add the donuts to the pan. Keep a close eye on them since they brown quickly.
When the bottom side is brown, flip with tongs or a fork.
When that side is brown, remove from oil & drain on a paper towel.


When the donuts have cooled enough to touch dip one side of the donuts in the butter then in the sugar mix.
Flip & do it again.
Now go ahead and eat them up!

Vacation 2014

Family Vaca 2014

We finally went on our first family vacation! Every year Peter's family goes on vacation together & the first year we were married I went with, that was 4 years ago! This year was such a blast and I am so excited for next year! 

The 5 hour car ride down as no problem. We left early enough in the morning that Riley and MacKenzie slept 3 hours before I even had to feed them. Luke & Maddie watched movies on the DVD player and were great kids for the trip. 

Luke & Maddie loved the beach & got awesome tan lines!

                                              

Welcome to my life!

Its been almost 5 months since the girls were born and my life is still as hectic as ever! Having twins hasn't made life easier but it hasn't made life miserable either, it's like a happy medium. We have good days, great days, horrible days, & dreadful days. You know, I guess we are still kind of normal. 

Though to make room for two more humans my schedule and my life had to adjust a bit. 

I no longer wake up, have a cup of coffee, and watch my favorite show while waiting for the kids to wake up. Now I wake up with one (or sometimes both) twins. I try to go to the bathroom before sitting down to feed them but sometimes I just don't have time.  My coffee is delayed and my peaceful morning is now filled with double the diaper changes, double the feedings, the hopes of getting to the coffee pot before it gets old, and waiting to use the bathroom until the girls are satisfied. But you know what, I get that bonding time with them before Luke & Maddie wake up and I love it. 

I no longer look "fresh faced" when going out. I'm lucky if I even get to apply eyeliner. Going out & about with 4 kids is like a race in this house.

"Luke find your shoes and put them on!"

"Madison pull your pants up and grab your blanket."

*trying to strap the girls in their seats and apply their bibs before they spit up all over* (never fails that EVERY TIME I put them in their car seats they decide to spit up all over) 

Thank goodness the older two love to help. Maddie is usually the last one out of the house because she loves to lock & shut the door for me. Luke will entertain the twins while I attempt to look decent enough to be in public.

And the days when Peter is home....well those are heaven & go so much smoother. 

As Riley & MacKenzie get older life gets easier. They can go longer between feedings, suck their thumbs if they are crying, & will now baby talk! Both are currently teething & trying to sit up by themselves (they have the supported sitting thing down). 

Online shopping is my friend, almost best friend if every site had free 2 day shipping like Amazon! 

Netflix and I are well acquainted. 

TShirts and basketball shorts are my uniform. My perfume you ask? Oh that's called baby spit up..ugh. 

Nail Polish is chipped and fading, hair is always thrown up in a pony tail or bun, and you will be lucky if my legs are freshly shaved. (Sorry, not sorry)

With that being said...I wouldn't trade this life for anything. I have 4 wonderful children that do/will call me mom. (A secret between you and me, Luke even calls me Super Mom)! Four little hearts that have yet to do anything horrible, they are pure and gentle little beings who can say "sorry" or "I love you" without anything attached or expected. They're my world and I am theirs. 

 

My Famous Pumpkin Roll

Two times every year I receive requests to make my pumpkin roll, the weekend of my BIL & FIL birthday dinner and Thanksgiving. I am not a pumpkin person, can't stand it actually, except for pumpkin roll. The sweetness of the filling makes up for the pumpkin. 

For the cake:

3/4 C. Flour

1/2 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/4 Tsp Salt

3 Lrg. Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

2/3 C. Pumpkin Puree

For the filling: 

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened

6 Tbsp Butter, Softened

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla

1/4 Cup Pecans, Chopped

Extra powdered sugar for dusting of towel & cake once finished

Cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line a pan with wax paper and then lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pie spice, and salt. Mix and set aside.

In another bowl beat the sugar and eggs until smooth. Add the pumpkin and vanilla until combined.

Finally add the dry ingredients until the batter forms. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth until there is an even layer.

Bake for 13-15 minutes.

Immediately invert the cake onto a towel that is sprinkled with powdered sugar. Roll up the cake and towel together. Cool completely.

Filling:

While the cake is cooling in the towel start the filling. 

Combine the cream cheese and butter until smooth. 

Beat in the vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth. 

Once the cake is cooled, unroll it and remove it from the towel onto a clean surface. 

Spread the frosting over the cake and sprinkle the chopped pecans over top, now re-roll the cake. 

Wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least an hour before cutting. 

Easy Garlic Knots

1/4 Cup Butter, Melted

3/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 Tsp Dried Oregano

1/2 Tsp Dried Parsley Flakes

1/4 Tsp Salt

1 Tube of Refrigerated Buttermilk Biscuits

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and lightly oil a cookie sheet.

In a small bowl combine the butter, garlic, oregano, parsley, and salt.

Halve each of the biscuits, making 16 pieces. Roll out each piece into 5in ropes and tie into a knot, tucking the ends under. 

Place knots onto prepared baking sheet and brush on half of the butter mixture. 

Place into oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. 

When done, remove from oven and brush with the rest of the butter mixture.