Bedtime Favorites

One of our favorite things to do in the Cummings house it to read books. Jay and I both read before bed so it was only natural for us to start that tradition with Caiden. We usually read three books after we have bathed and brushed our teeth and are snuggled into bed. It really doesn't matter what we read to him, he loves all books.

Here are three of my favorites that I would recommend to anyone with children. This first one makes me cry every time I read it.

Some Recipes!

Since my computer is being a little booger, I haven't been able to do the posts I wanted to do because they require pictures. So instead, I decided to share with you two recipes I tried this weekend that were both huge successes!

I would like to give credit for the first one to my friend Amy. She gave me this recipe that she got from her mother and it is super good and super easy to make.

Black Olive Salsa

1 Tomato (seeded)
1 Jalapeno (seeded)
1 Can of Black Olives
1 Green Onion
2 T. Picante Salsa

If you have a mini food processor to chop the veggies (finely) it is easier but I just used a good ole knife and cutting board. You can add more or less of any of these items to make it the way you like. I used a large can of olives instead of a small because I like them! Mix them together and serve with Scoops Chips!

The second recipe I tried was a homemade macaroni and cheese dish. I got this recipe from Mary Bell of Bell BQ Catering (she happens to be our school secretary and a phenomenal cook!)

Macaroni and Cheese

24 oz box of elbow macaroni cooked according to the package
2/3 of a 2lb block of Velveeta cheese (diced)
2 cans of Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
8 oz block of pepper jack cheese (diced)
1-1/2 sticks of butter
2 tbsp of granulated garlic
2 cups of milk (should be soupy)

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and add the ingredients to it. Cook at 325 degrees for 60-90 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Dinosaurs Unearthed

So every parent wants to do nice things for their kids. We seek out all kinds of things that we can treat our kids to; candy, vacations, toys, you name it. Well, I heard on the radio about the new exhibit at Union Station that was opening this weekend and thought Caiden would love it. He has been really into Dinosaurs lately so I thought this would be perfect. We're talking Dinosaur Train every day, Dinosaur books, toys, movies, how could he not love this?!

Ho-ly Crap! I have never in my life seen him so scared out of his mind. From the second we got out of the elevator there were little boys screaming and crying and trying desperately to exit the building with their parents clinging tightly to their tiny, little bodies. The parents, of course, didn't want to leave because they paid $18.00 a person to be there!

It seemed like with every corner we turned there was a little boy begging to leave and that is just what Caiden started doing. You could hear the sound of dinosaurs roaring from within the exhibit and I think his imagination got to him before we could explain things. The entire time he was clinging to me telling me he just wanted to go home. I felt so bad but at the same time, we paid $50 for the three of us to be there! How could we leave?!

I am proud to say that he made it through the whole exhibit (even if I did speed walk through some of it) and he didn't cry once. He was very strong and even though I could tell he really really wanted to, he didn't. What a tough kiddo! Ironically, there were no little girls crying, just boys. Weird huh?

The funny part is that the whole way home he talked about the dinosaur poop we saw so we did a poop hunt out the window as we were driving. Good news, we didn't find any ;0)

So much to blog about!

I seem to always think of things to blog about and have even been keeping a list but lately I have had no time! I know that sounds like a cop out but really, I have been busy. School has just 1-1/2 days left (only 1/2 with kids) and then summer school picks up the very next day. I will be working summer school this year and I am super excited! Not only is it extra money but I get to work on my tan too!

So to let you know that I do have good intentions and will be posting later this week, here are some things that I PROMISE to get out within the next 10 days.

My 5 year anniversary
Caiden's experience at the Dinosaurs Unearthed
The End of school wrap up.
Before and After pictures of the flowers at my house (along with our new deck and patio my husband built)

Wow! I blogged about blogging. Now I must keep up my end of the deal so my loyal followers don't completely give up on me!

Rain, Rain

GO AWAY!

I don't know about anyone else but I am ready for this rain to stop! I have been wanting to get out and plant some flowers and work in the yard but it has been too cold. Our house is freezing too and it makes me just want to snuggle up on the couch with my boys and do nothing. If I was able to do just this, I wouldn't mind but there are always things that need to be done, bodies that need to be bathed and mouths that need to be fed.

I do feel like the evenings are going smoother lately. We have settled into our routine and try really hard to stick to it. Last night Lincoln gave me the best Mother's Day present, he slept through the night! We put him down around 9:00 and he slept all the way until 5:30. I thought for sure when he woke up he would be up for the morning but he wasn't. He just needed a bottle then he went back down until around 7:30. I know tonight we will not be that lucky but it is a step in the right direction. We can see that light at the end of the sleepy tunnel.

There isn't too much to report so this post is short. I guess that is a good thing!

Mother of Two

Even as I am typing this sentence I have a child on my lap, fidgety, fussy and wanting to be held. Demanding all of my attention. Sucking up all of my energy. I have no time for myself and consider days when I get to shower a success.

For 20 out of the 24 hours a day I am on the go in one way or another. My job now is very different from the job I had when Caiden was a baby. I get to work at 8:00 and leave at 5:00 with a 20 minute lunch break around 11:30 that is usually interrupted so I can escort a student to Recovery or cover some one's class so they can have a bathroom break. The rest of my day is spent in front of the class teaching or walking around the room helping kids one on one.

When I get home I am usually on my own until Jay gets home around 7:00. This time is spent fixing dinner for the boys, getting their bag ready for the next day, washing bottles, feeding animals and playing. When Daddy gets home we give the boys a bath then take turns putting the boys to bed. This usually starts at 8:00 with Caiden and ends between 9-10 with Lincoln. He is getting better about going down but some nights it takes a few hours to get him settled so he can fall asleep. By this time in the evening we are so sleepy we may watch one of our shows in the DVR but some nights we just go straight to bed.

As you can see this leaves little time for us to do anything, including housework. We pretty much live in filth right now and rarely have clean clothes for work because if we do have time to do a load of laundry in the evening it is usually to clean Lincoln's clothes that have spit up on them or Caiden's clothes because he had an accident that day or our sheets because our cats have spit up a hairball on them at some point in the day.

All of this and somehow, I am still loving every bit of being a mother of two. There are definitely easy days and hard days but I would never say good or bad days. They are all good. Even the ones where I have been up all night with a wide-eyed, hungry baby who only wants to "snack" and play. I still love it. I wouldn't change anything for the world. I love watching how my older son interacts with my younger son. I love how my younger son lights up when he hears his older brother's voice.

All I can say is that we are so blessed. I think this every day and thank God for all I have. It may not be a lot but it is so much.

2010- First Quarter Recap

Caiden- 3 years old

Loves watching the Dinosaur Train and can pronounce almost all of the dinosaur names correctly.

Has a collection of action figures that includes G.I. Joe characters, baseball players, He-Man figures and one Star Wars guy that he plays with everyday.

Still carries around Curious George and Bunny as part of his entourage.

Learned how to go potty like a big kid and is doing it all by himself now!

Knows the alphabet song and can recognize a few letters when he sees them, like "C" for Caiden. He can also spell his name (speaking, not writing).

Wants to be a baseball player when he gets bigger.

Became a big brother and is doing an awesome job at it.

Still loves reading books and playing puzzles.

Lincoln- Newborn

Came into this world on February 28 at 3:05 PM.

Is already 9 lbs and 20 1/2 inches long.

Is sleeping pretty good now that we bought the bedtime formula.

Is about as laid back as they come.

Has an awesome smile!

Loves laying on the floor and listening to music.

Is definitely my son because is a great snuggler!

Is the world's sneakiest pee-er.