Squashy Mac

sneaking in squash was too easy... they're the same color!

What do you do when your child loves macaroni and cheese and eats it well but you would like to up it's nutritious content? You make Squashy Mac!
I bought a little frozen box of winter squash puree in the frozen veggie section because i know that Ben loves squash and it would be easier and cheaper to thaw the block of it than to buy squash, roast it, scrape it out and then consider freezing it if it made more than Ben would eat in a week.  So I skipped a few steps.

Well a couple weeks ago I was making macaroni and cheese for our lunch and thought that I should defrost the squash for Ben's dinner while I was in the kitchen.  Then, when I looked at the pot and pan in front of me... the concept for Squashy Mac was born!

Polishing off a trayful

Ben seemed to have no idea that a good portion of his beloved Mac and Cheese was actually squash!  The squash also made the quantity larger so I was able to serve it for a few meals over the course of the week by just putting portions in the microwave.

I'm starting to think I'll make mac&cheese like this all the time and hope my kids just think that it has a naturally earthy flavor to it :)

Dancing Boy

We're practicing our dancing for a September wedding...  and a November wedding...

Benjamin's 1 year old video

I made this video about Benjamin to document the blessing he has been in our lives :)  I'll let it do the talking...

Best way to watch the video is in HD, here's how to do that if you aren't familiar with youtube:

• Click on "Benjamin's Birthday Video" below and pause the video when it first comes up.
• Click on "360p" on the grey bar and change it to 720pHD.
• Wait about a minute  (better to wait now than for buffering during! Get yourself a drink of water or something...)
• Make the video full screen (click on the icon of 4 arrows)
• Hit play!

 

Benjamin's Birthday Video

 

 

 

 

Benjamin hearts dogs

Benjamin loves dogs. He also likes signing "dog" and making woof woof sounds :) I decided I needed to preserve his antics in video form one morning so I experimented with the webcam on my computer- having it record while I played a youtube video of a dog barking. This was originally filmed June 20th.

Nap Prayer

I wanted something to say to signal to Benjamin that it was time to take a nap and thought it would be nice if it was a prayer too.  So here's what I came up with.  I printed it out and matted it in the colors of his room.
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Dear Jesus,

It’s time to nap, please help me rest,

So that I’m always at my best.

And when I wake, dear Lord I pray,

You bless and guide me through the day.

Amen.

First Hair Cut

I know that it probably violates some rule, giving a haircut before the first birthday but my little boy was starting to look like he had a mullet if his baby curls didn't curl up real tight. Therefore, we cut off just a TINY bit to keep him looking like a well groomed little boy :)
Here's a picture just before we got started.
How to keep this little guy still while cutting-- put on a Baby Signing Time video and you are good to go! He loves them and is starting to sign more and more!

New Van

Wahoo! After months of searching we stumbled on the van we wanted. Ended up that it was as the dealership that my parents have bought a few vehicles from! So a week and a half ago we travelled to Noblesville for a short visit and to buy the van.  Luckily we got there just in time.   It drives so smoothly and quietly.  I loved being able to hop back a seat to be able to take care of Ben for a second on the way home.  It should serve us wonderfully for years to come!

PS. I was SO sad to leave my CRV at my parents but at least I know that it is in caring and appreciative hands. (perhaps my sister's, wink, wink)  There's something about your first car...

finally updated

Phew... it seems that my blog has finally showed up as being updated even though I've been updating in the 2 months that it didn't show up in blog readers or blog lists as such.  I spent hours yesterday trying to figure out why it wasn't, perhaps I fixed it?  Either way... welcome back! :) 

Look through the last couple months!

How the mundane can feel new

Went to HyVee today and used coupons to save about $10 off the total bill, didn't use any plastic bags because I brought my own and took them home in our new van... I almost felt like a different person!

I'll post pics of the van as soon

You are my sunshine...

Gotta love big hats for pale boys :)