Friday Favorites: The Best Little Handheld Vacuum EVER! (ON SALE!)

Mama friends, you NEED this!

I posted this picture of my new favorite little handheld vacuum on social media, and I had about 100 people ask me where they could get one.  Phil got it for me for Christmas, and it is my FAVORITE present (you know you're a mom when your favorite gift is a vacuum). Seriously, this little thing ROCKS: so lightweight, charges easily, and it picks up everything! Although, if you use it to pick up a biscuit, it might get clogged (don't ask me how I know!)  I took the picture above after I used it in and around Cole's carseat...I know, how gross is that?!  I think it picked up an entire bag of Goldfish and at least one mini box of Craisins.

It's ON SALE, so get one today, friends!  You will thank me.  Happy Friday!

Mom Confessions

This weekend, a friend of mine who has two babies almost the same ages as Cole and Annie, sent me a text asking me if I was able to get anything done around the house without putting the TV on.  My response: heck no...not when they are both awake!  Seriously, though, if anyone has a two-and-a-half year old and almost one year old that are able to happily entertain themselves for any period of time without someone getting hurt, please let me know your secrets!  This reminded me of one of the main reasons I wanted to start a blog: to be real with other moms.

In our age of social media, most people just post the "pretty" stuff...which I think is fine.  I don't think social media is the place to post about fights with your husband or vent about issues with your kids.  However; with all these pretty posts, it is easy to compare yourself and think you are not measuring up as a mom.  I have a mom friend who has triplet two year olds and runs not one but TWO businesses out of her house.  Seriously, what a rock star. Meanwhile, I am proud of myself I make it to Publix and back with my two without a major meltdown.

Heres the thing: when it comes down to it, we are all doing our very best, and no one is perfect.  I know I am just figuring it out as I go and praying for grace through all of my mistakes. I may post the sweet pictures of Cole loving on Annie, but I spend half of the day trying to keep him from punching her. So here are my "mom confessions" of the day.  My hope in sharing them is that my mama friends can relate and maybe feel a little better about any of their not-so-pretty or perfect moments.

1. I pack healthy stuff in Cole's preschool lunches that I KNOW he won't eat, just so his teachers won't judge me.  The kid hasn't eaten a sandwich a day in his life, but you better believe I am making PBJ and turkey sandwiches to send in his lunchbox.  Then I am all like, "That's so weird he only ate the goldfish snack and didn't touch the sandwich or broccoli..." In case anyone is wondering, it actually IS possible to survive off of carbs, fruit and orange juice.  Cole is living proof. Who needs protein and vegetables, anyway?

2. A friend of mine shared that her pediatrician told her timeout should last at least 15 minutes (in kids that aren't phased by timeout), and I have secretly been LOVING it. Not that I am thrilled about whatever Cole does to earn a timeout, but I can clean almost the entire house in those 15 minutes he is stuck in the pack-n-play.  He hit Annie before school today, and I was able to pack his lunch, clean the kitchen and load the car. Oh, and maybe he learned his lesson...

3. Cole asks for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes by name.  This means he probably watches way too much TV.  We literally have 65 episodes on the DVR, and this morning he actually said, "Mommy, I want to watch Mickey's Mousekedoer Adventure."

4. I re-washed the same load of laundry 3 times over the past couple days, because I didn't put it in the dryer fast enough.  This is a very common occurrence in our house....that or mildewy smelling clothes (sorry Phil!)

5. This is such a stereotypical SAHM thing to say, but I wear yoga pants 95 percent of the time.  It was actually my goal to get "dressed" more often in 2016, but it hasn't happened yet.  I did splurge on some Lululemon pants and super cute tops from "Seriously Happy Tees", so at least I don't look like a total bum when I go to pick Cole up from school.

6. My child is literally the world's worst sharer, and it kills me.  All two year olds are bad at sharing...I know that is what you are thinking, but I am telling you, Cole is the WORST.  He went through a phase where the first thing he would say in the morning is, "I will not share my toys today."  My husband said the other day that his determination about it is almost impressive...at least we know the kid will accomplish whatever he sets his mind to in this life!  I know Cole is his own person and has a sweet little heart underneath that non-sharing exterior, and (I hope) that he will learn the value of sharing by the time he's 30. I still hate to admit this as a mom, though, because being nice and kind is at the very top of my list of things I want to teach my kids.

7. My kids eat this frozen pizza for dinner a minimum of two nights a week.  It says all natural on the box, which makes me feel slightly better, and they freaking LOVE it, so this meal shortcut won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

8. Cole went through a short (luckily) phase where he was saying, "Oh s***" in the correct context, and he totally got it from me.  The first time it happened, he was running in the house and ran into me and fell, and what do you know, that little voice yelled, "Oh s***" clear as day. I was hoping I heard him wrong, but the next night when he was building blocks with Daddy and he accidentally knocked them over, there it was again. I don't have a potty mouth, but that is my go-to phrase from time to time.  Lesson learned.

9. I was making a grocery list out loud last week, and Cole chimed in, "milk, orange juice, water, WINE, cereal and waffles."  Enough said.

10. I LOVE that my kids can't tell time yet....I put them down at 6:20 p.m. one night last week, and they didn't know the difference (so there is one good thing about it getting dark at 5!)  When Daddy works late, bedtimes get earlier and earlier.  Oh, and I usually pour a glass of wine the second they go down. So Cole was totally right about that grocery list...

So, there you have it.  While I love being a mom to these two precious babies, I do NOT have it all figured out.  Not even close.  My kids watch too much TV and eat frozen pizza for dinner way more often than I would like to admit, and I am just over here drinking wine in my mildewy smelling yoga pants at 6:20 p.m. I thank Jesus up above that he loves me and my kids through all the craziness and shows me grace through my (many) mistakes. As moms, we are all trying our hardest to do what is best for our babies, and the best thing we can do for each other is be REAL and supportive. Oh, and for those moms out there that get dressed every day, and never turn on the TV and cook all organic food, please, teach me your ways...and I promise to only secretly hate you a little bit. ;)

A Few of My Favorite BABY Things

The Baby Essentials

I recently had a new-mom friend suggest that I share some of my favorite baby registry items on my blog.  She said as a new mom, she had NO IDEA what to register for and thought it would be helpful to other new moms if I shared some must-have items.  With Cole, we registered for and purchased EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.  After navigating the newborn phase with Cole and then again with Annie, I have figured out what we really didn't need and what we couldn't live without.  Many of the items we purchased for Cole haven't even come back out of storage, and Annie seems to be surviving so far.

So here are my favorites.  I have also polled my team of expert moms (my two best friends who are two of the best mamas I know!)  JJ is the mom of two sweet boys (2.5 years and 11 months) who were both born within days of Cole and Annie...so we have really been in this mom thing together! Katie has a 1.5 year old little girl and watches two other little ones in her home and has been called "Mama Kate" since before I can remember, because she was just born to be a mom and is an expert in all things baby. :)

1. Moms on Call Book (Basic Baby Care 0-6 Months)
This is my number one baby item, because following this schedule (and hiring the service with Cole) gave me the gift of SLEEP and really helped guide me as a mom.  I will share my journey with MOC in another blog post, but I HIGHLY recommend buying the 0-6 month book to prepare for the newborn phase (and the other books for later on, too!)

2. Miracle Blanket Swaddle
Cole has been freakishly strong since birth, and this is the only swaddle that worked for him.

3. White Noise Machine
You can't really go wrong here, but just get one.  This is the one we have and it has worked great.

4. Nuk Pacifiers
Every baby is different, but I had the most success with Nuk pacis staying in.

5. Motorola Monitor
We haven't used our monitor quite as much as our kids have gotten bigger, but I love having one when they're newborns.  I also think it will come in handy when we move Cole to a big-boy bed (Lord knows what he will get into.)  I know there are fancier monitors that can be logged into from cell phones/computers, but I have heard mixed reviews, and I think this is all you need. (You can add cameras for multiple children.)

6. Fisher Price Bouncer
You probably can't go wrong with a bouncer, but I love this one, because it is light and easy to carry around the house.  When in doubt, go Fisher Price!

7. Rock N Play Sleeper
We used the Rock N Play sleeper all the time with Cole.  We actually used it way less with Annie, because she typically napped in her crib, but it is great for when you are on the go or need somewhere for your baby to take a cat nap.

8. Kick N Play
This might be my number two baby item, because it is the ONLY thing that remotely entertained Cole Adra for the first several months of his life.  I could put him down and get at least 10 minutes to breathe, which was amazing!  I could put Sweet Annie down on that thing, and she would be entertained for hours....maybe not hours, but seriously, BUY THIS!

9. Boppy
I loved the Boppy for nursing, and my kids loved it for tummy time and sitting up.

10. Fisher Price Swing
Neither of my kids loved our swing (Annie liked it more than Cole...surprise, surprise,) but Katie and JJ both said they could not have lived without their swing.  I did enjoy putting Annie in ours when I was cooking dinner.  This is the one my mom experts love. :)

11. Bottles...my suggestion is don't buy too many of any one type of bottle.  Every baby is different, and you will want to see what works best for your baby.
Nuk Bottle- I have some SERIOUS love for Nuk bottles, because it is the ONLY bottle Annie Grace would take.  I tried every trick in the book and every bottle in the store with Annie, and after two months of nearly losing my mind, a friend suggested this bottle (thank you Kristen!)  It works great for babies that love to breastfeed!
Avent Natural Bottle- This is the bottle I used with Cole and the bottle Katie used with her daughter, Marlie Kate.
Dr. Browns Bottles- This is what JJ used with her boys when they were newborns.  I have a lot of friends who say these bottles help with gas.
Gerber Bottles- JJ and I both used these when our boys got past the newborn stage.  These are the bottles Moms on Call recommends...and they are the cheapest, so that is a bonus!
See what I am saying?! Hold off on the bottle purchases.

12. Strollers...there are so many strollers out there, and I am sure the ones I recommend are not the only good ones, but I have loved mine!
Baby Jogger Citi Mini GT- This is the single stroller I had for Cole, and I loved it.  I am a "power" walker, not a jogger, though.  I think it may be slightly easier to fold and get in and out of the car than the BOB. I know the BOB Jogger is great as well, though, and JJ loved hers.
BOB Double Jogger- Between babies one and two, I decided one day I may want to jog.  It hasn't happened yet, but I like that I have the option. ;)  I actually asked a lot of moms and most told me side by side would be better than front/back for a double stroller.  I didn't love the way the infant attachment worked on the Baby Jogger double stroller, so I went with the BOB.  I LOVE it, but it is no joke getting this beast in and out of the car...and don't even get me started on navigating it through stores.  I still don't think you can find a better jogging stroller.

13. Snap N Go Stroller
I don't know how I got by without one of these with Cole.  I lugged my big 'ole stroller in and out of the car with every small errand.  I LOVED this little stroller with Annie.  It was so easy to pop her carseat in and navigate stores and restaurants with.  Regardless of the stroller you end up with, I think this is a must!

14. Aiden + Anais Blankets
These are the best little blankets.  Katie and JJ made sure I didn't forget them!  They are perfect as burp cloths, light blankets in the stroller and for covering the carseat.

15. Carseat Cover
I am pretty sure you can't go wrong here, but my germaphobe self is all about a carseat cover with newborns.  I am not one for staying cooped up in my house, so I think this is a MUST.

16. Shopping Cart/High Chair Cover
I don't think you can go wrong here either, but please don't let your baby's mouth touch the shopping cart handle, at least without wiping it down. ;)  Like I said, biggest germaphobe around right here, so clearly I think this is a must-have-item!  Katie and JJ are more relaxed than me and might not agree...

17. Medela Pump in Style (Breast pump)
If you are planning to breastfeed, I think this pump is the way to go.  Most insurance companies will cover it, which is a bonus.  Medela does make a more expensive version that is hands-free, but I watched my SIL attempt to hook it up, and it is NOT worth the trouble, believe me. The "Pump in Style" works great with the hands-free bra.  I suggest waiting to buy any accessories until you figure out if breastfeeding is going to work for you and your baby.

18. Boon Grass Drying Rack
This might seem like a silly item, but Katie, JJ and I have all LOVED our grass drying racks.  Don't forget the twigs and flowers! :)

19. 4Moms Infant Tub
I loved using the 4Moms tub with the Blooming Bath inside to keep my newborns from slipping.  It made bath time much more relaxing, and my babies loved it!

20. WubbaNub Pacifier
These work great when babies are newborns and have a hard time keeping their pacis in.

21. Sleepers that zip.
Seriously, buttons are NOT your friend in the middle of the night.

22. Carseats
Peg Perego Infant Car Seat
We have the Peg Perego...It is not the cheapest option, and I don't think it is the lightest either, but we were told it was the safest.  Cole hated it for the first 6 months of his life (although he hated a lot of things for the first 6 months of life) and then was fine with it, and Annie always loved it.  I have also heard it is one of the few carseats that works for preemies.
JJ has the BRITAX B-Safe and loves it, and Katie has the BRITAX B-Agile infant car seat/stroller combo and loves both.  She said the car seat is light and the base is easy to install.
Don't forget an extra base for the hubby's cars!

23. Graco High Chair
I love how the tray pops off for easy cleaning, and we use the booster seat that came with it for Cole now.

24. Graco Pack 'n Play
Katie and I both have an older version of the Graco Pack 'n Play.  This is a must for travel, and recently we have used it as a timeout spot for Cole.

25. Pampers Swaddlers (newborn)
We use Pampers in our house.  We start with the Swaddlers and eventually switch to the Cruisers.  Don't buy too many newborn diapers, though, because you get plenty from the hospital and some babies grow out of them quickly!

26. NoseFrida
I was beyond disgusted by this when the employee at Buy Buy Baby told me it was a must-have baby item.  I could not wrap my brain around sucking the snot out of my baby's nose...seriously, eww!! It works, though, really well. I could never calm Cole down enough to use it on him, but Annie actually likes it. JJ and Katie both swear by it, too.

27. Hooded towels like this one...just because they are the cutest things ever.  We use our hooded towels every night!

28. Diaper Genie
Some of my friends use the Diaper Dekor, but I have tried both and like the Genie better.

29. Evenflo Exersaucer
Both Cole and Annie have LOVED this exersaucer.  It really keeps them entertained, and I can still put Annie in it if I need to get in the shower (I keep ours in the bathroom.)  It is HUGE, though, and takes up a lot of space and such a pain to move around the house.  Also, if you bump into it on your way to the bathroom at night, it sings, "RED, YELLOW, and BLUE!" ;)

So there you have it!  I think I covered most of our favorite baby items.  Every mama and every baby is different, though, and things that work great for my family may not work for yours.  So this is no way an exclusive list, but I hope it is helpful as a reference to my new mama friends!  If I think of anything major we forgot, I will add it to the list.  Thanks so much for the help, Katie and JJ...I couldn't do this mom thing without y'all!

The Truth Behind Our Christmas Card

I LOVE Christmas cards.  The month of December is my absolute favorite time of year to check the mail.  In this world of social media and digital everything, there is something so special and exciting about getting pictures and cards from friends and family that make the effort to place a real stamp on something.  We love to hang them in our house and pray thankful prayers for the sweet families that we are so blessed to have in our lives. I also love taking our Christmas card pictures.  Why wouldn't I?  We have the perfect family, and the perfect kids who happily smile for the camera and make the experience so enjoyable.  (Anyone that actually knows my family is already laughing at the last sentence.)

Let me give you a little background of our "perfect" Christmas card picture this year.  It looks something like this: The week before the picture, I am trying to plan out our outfits....because, clearly, if we are going to sit happily in a field at sunset, like we do most evenings in the fall, we need to all be color coordinated.  This is usually somewhat challenging, because solids are the way to go, and solids apparently aren't "in" for babies.  Since shopping with a two year old and a baby is such a relaxing experience, I usually choose the "buy everything remotely cute and take back what doesn't work method."  Phil loves this method and is super thrilled to not only pay for formal pictures, but also pay for new outfits for the entire family (well for everyone but him...it always seems to work that way. ;))

The day of pictures this year, I dropped Cole at school and headed to get an eyebrow wax...because clearly I needed freshly waxed eyebrows to go with my new outfit.  As I was laying back relaxing in the chair and the skin was being ripped from my face, my cell phone rang.  It was Cole's school (which is NEVER a good phone call to get.)  The sweet preschool director on the phone said, "Cole is okay, but he's been crying all day and saying his ear hurts.  We think you need to come get him."  Oh no...not on picture day!  (Selfish mom confession, this may have been my first thought.) I called the doctor and made an appointment as I headed to Cole's school.  The doctor confirmed that, sure enough, he had his first ear infection since he got his tubes back in January.

Since it was a beautiful day and rescheduling with Phil's schedule is nearly impossible, we decided to take the pictures anyways.  Just getting Cole dressed for the occasion was a battle in itself. Now I was running twenty minutes late (and I am someone who HATES to be late.)  I arrived flustered and already sweating.  Thankfully with some medicine and tylenol, Cole was back to himself, but like any impossible two-year-old, he was being SO disagreeable.  The first time Cole ran away screaming, Phil threw his hands in the air, and said "I give up, this is pointless at his age."  You give up?!  What do you mean you give up?  We JUST got here.  This is no time to give up!  We will look like one big happy family if it kills us.  Isn't that what Christmas is all about?!

So there we were...Cole with an ear infection, Phil sweating and in a bad mood, me irritated at Phil for being impatient (oh and sweet Annie just sitting there smiling...thank the Lord for sweet Annie.)  Cole was running away towards the playground he could see in the distance, and Phil was having to chase him, tackle him, tickle him and throw him in the air to get him to smile for the pictures. At one point Cole tackled Annie and was basically wresting her in the dirt. I have to give a shout-out to my friend and amazingly talented and patient photographer Jamie, because she is clearly a MIRACLE worker for getting this beautiful picture and so many other good ones that day.

The gorgeous pictures don't necessarily tell the entire story of what our family looked like that day (although I am pretty sure Jamie has some hilarious outtakes).  So why "fake" it?  The truth is, the picture with Cole's HUGE smile perfectly describes Cole at his best.  That is the two year old that I adore and that is constantly making us laugh.  The smiles on mine and Phil's face may not reflect our attitudes towards each other that day, but they do reflect the love we have for each other and our little family.  Annie's calm nature came through in her sweet little grin.

A few weeks later we attempted a grandparents photo shoot, and Phil and my brother weren't able to be there (since the first attempt at pictures was cancelled because half the family had the stomach bug.)  We had a very similar experience to our family pictures.  The toddlers were running in different directions, the babies were crying and kicking off their shoes, and my dad was complaining that his knee hurt.  Bless Jamie's heart, because she had to WORK to get some pictures that day.  We laughed so hard we cried, and somehow we ended up with sweet pictures like this one...pictures that show Nanna and Mac at their best, loving on their sweet grandbabies that adore them.

So no, we don't take these pictures so our family looks perfect.  Clearly, we are far from it.  The pictures don't tell the entire story. There are so many moments in between the big smiles that might not look so picture-perfect. The pictures represent us at our best, which is exactly how Jesus sees us.  In a world that can be dark and negative, Jesus is the light that shines in all of us and the reason for all of the good we see.  Christmas is a time to celebrate his birth and to worship the one that sees the best in everyone.

So when I look back at our Christmas card this year, I will smile.  It is the perfect representation of our family at our best.  Please keep sending us pictures of your smiling faces, too.  They brighten our house and remind us just how much our Father loves us, by putting such special people in our lives.

REJOICE!  Merry Christmas, Love, The Adra Family.

P.S.

I also attempted to surprise Phil with a picture of me and the kids, and well, this was the best we got.  You can't win 'em all!

Meal Planning- The EASIEST and most delicious baked chicken ever (courtesy of my SIL!)

I am going to include the baked chicken recipe and also the recipes for the two EASY sides I always make with this meal: sautéed spinach and yummy rice (wish I could come up with a better name, but it is yummy!)

I can't take credit for this delicious and easy baked chicken recipe.  My sister-in-law, Stephanie, made it up, and it is one of our favorites. (I got her permission to share it on my blog!)  It was included in a cookbook my Aunt Lauren made for me as an engagement gift, that is compiled of recipes from friends and family (side note: this priceless cookbook is one of my favorite gifts EVER!  I love looking through it and making recipes from all my favorite people!)  So here is this simple recipe that you will LOVE:

From the Store:

2 chicken breasts with ribs and skin (I LOVE the Publix Greenwise split breasts w/ribs)

olive oil

kosher salt

pepper

That is ALL...and you probably have 3 of the 4 ingredients in your kitchen already.

1. Pre-heat oven to 375. Wash the chicken breasts and place in a medium sized casserole dish.

2. Pour olive oil on top of chicken breasts (I always hate when recipes don't give amounts, but you really can't mess it up.) 

3. Add kosher salt and pepper.

4. Place chicken breasts (uncovered) in oven and bake at 375 for an hour. (Cooking time can vary....these are usually large chicken breasts so can sometimes take longer.  I take them out at an hour and cut open, and if they aren't done, I add 5-10 minutes.)

5. ENJOY!  This is seriously my favorite way to make chicken.  

Sauteed Spinach

My mother-in-law made spinach this way one time when she was visiting, and I have made it weekly since.  It is SO easy and a great way to get your greens.

From the Store:

1 bag of spinach

grape tomatoes

salt

pepper

1. Heat a large pan on medium to high heat.

2. Wash the grape tomatoes and slice them in half (I use the brand with Elmo on the sticker, because Cole always spots them...Once he even opened them and poured them out in the store, because he thought they were "Elmo Balls."  That was fun!)

I only use about half of the tomatoes, but this is a personal preference.  

3. Pour olive oil into bottom of the pan and add the tomatoes. 

4. Next, pour the bag of spinach into the pan. Drizzle olive oil over the top and add salt and pepper.

5. Stir the spinach and add a little more salt and pepper.  (The whole process should only take about 5 minutes.)

6. ENJOY!

Yummy Rice:

I got this rice recipe from my best friend, Katie.  She used to make it all the time when I lived with her.  I am waiting to find out where she got it so I can give credit.  I think there are a lot of versions of this recipe out there, so here is how I make it.

From the Store:

2 cans beef consomme

1 onion

1 cup of original condensed rice

sliced mushrooms (optional- I almost always make it with mushrooms, but yesterday they didn't look good at the store, so this time I didn't include them)

butter/soy sauce (to sauté the mushrooms)

1. Chop the onion. (Or you can use a can of french onion soup!  If you do that, only use 1.5 cans of the beef consomme.)

2. Add the rice, onion, and beef consomme to a large pan.

3. Bring to a boil, uncovered.

4. OPTIONAL- saute mushrooms in butter/a small amount of soy sauce while you're bringing the rice to a boil.  Add to mixture.

5.  Cover rice and leave on low heat. It takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on how hot your burner is.  I think it tastes better if you cook it longer on lower heat.

6. Stir occasionally. 

7. Enjoy!  You will know it is done when the liquid is soaked up.  Make sure not to leave it too long, because the rice will burn and stick to the bottom of the pan.

This is what the meal looks like all together.  I also like to dip my rice and chicken in ranch (because I like to dip everything in ranch!)  Cooking timing tip: I typically start the rice right after I put the chicken in the oven.  Once the rice is ready, I put it in a dish with the lid and make the spinach.  Usually by the time the spinach is done, the chicken is ready!  ENJOY!!!

Recipe Card: Baked Chicken.

1. Pre-heat oven to 375. Wash the chicken breasts and place in a medium sized casserole dish.

2. Pour olive oil on top of chicken breasts (I always hate when recipes don't give amounts, but you really can't mess it up.) 

3. Add kosher salt and pepper.

4. Place chicken breasts (uncovered) in oven and bake at 375 for an hour. (Cooking time can vary....these are usually large chicken breasts so can sometimes take longer.  I take them out at an hour and cut open, and if they aren't done, I add 5-10 minutes.)

5. ENJOY!  This is seriously my favorite way to make chicken.

Recipe Card- Sauteed Spinach.

1. Heat a large pan on medium to high heat.

2. Wash the grape tomatoes and slice them in half.
3. Pour olive oil into bottom of the pan and add the tomatoes.
4. Next, pour the bag of spinach into the pan. Drizzle olive oil over the top and add salt and pepper.
5. Stir the spinach and add a little more salt and pepper.  (The whole process should only take about 5 minutes.)
6. ENJOY

Recipe Card: Yummy Rice
1. Chop the onion.
2. Add the rice, onion, and beef consomme to a large pan.

3. Bring to a boil, uncovered.

4. OPTIONAL- saute mushrooms in butter/a small amount of soy sauce while you're bringing the rice to a boil.  Add to mixture.

5.  Cover rice and leave on low heat. It takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on how hot your burner is.  I think it tastes better if you cook it longer on lower heat.
6. Stir occasionally.
7. Enjoy!  You will know it is done when the liquid is soaked up.  Make sure not to leave it too long, because the rice will burn and stick to the bottom of the pan.

Thankful Thinking

Tis the season to be THANKFUL, and it has gotten me thinking about the way I think as a mom.  I thank Jesus all the time for these two sweet little souls I get to call my babies, but how often do I give thanks in my daily life? How often am I grateful for the day-to-day small tasks that make up my days as a mom?  While there are big “mom moments” from time to time, most of my days are made up of not-so-glamorous things like changing diapers, wiping hands and picking up toys.  Even small tasks that used to be simple before I had kids can be quite challenging, so sometimes giving thanks doesn’t come naturally. 

Take going to the grocery store, for example.  Before I had kids, I would put on my shoes, grab my purse, and maybe even stop for a latte on the way.  I pulled into my parking spot, got out of the car, did my shopping and paid at the register.   Now, it looks something like this:  “Cole, let’s get dressed and change your diaper, because we are going to the grocery store to get your chocolate cookie nice.” (yes Cole thinks that is the sole reason we go to Publix is for his free cookie, and yes he calls it a chocolate cookie “nice.")  Cole’s typical response, “No grocery, no cookie (now I just know he is being difficult,) wear my jammies, no shoes.”  Perfect.  The next few minutes are spent negotiating/threatening/bribing/whatever it takes to get him to lay down for a diaper and wardrobe change and get him out the door.  Sometimes I pack a snack, since he clearly needs something to eat on his way to get his chocolate cookie nice.  We say goodbye to our friends on the Disney Channel (thank you Jesus for Mickey Mouse ClubHouse,) and I strap him into his car seat.  While I am loading Annie into the car, Cole usually has some sort of complaint or issue that needs immediate attention.  I usually hand Annie a bottle while I tend to his emergency, since the sweet child feeds herself these days.

On the way to the store, Cole yells from the back seat, “Cole no like THAT song” about pretty much every song.  When we arrive, I get him out and tell him he has to hold on to Mommy’s leg while I unload Annie.  I then tell him he needs to hold my hand as we walk across the parking lot, which is usually very upsetting to him, since he would prefer to run in front of oncoming traffic.  As we walk into Publix, he has a long debate about which car he would like to drive.  I juggle Annie in one arm and ask him to hold onto my leg and not to touch ANYTHING until I can give the car a “carwash” (AKA wipe it down with fifty tiny wipes.) While I am wiping the car, Annie is leaning down and licking the steering wheel, which gives me heart palpitations thinking about those germs.  I finally get the kids into the car.  Cole makes it clear that Annie is not allowed to drive, and sits on her, which makes her cry.  This is all before we step foot inside the actual store.  I mean, Lord help me, I am already sweating.

Between boring mundane things like picking up toys off the floor, and tasks that are meant to be simple becoming major events, like going to the grocery store, it is SO easy as a mom to have a bad attitude.  It is easy to complain, and it is easy to think about the days before leaving the house was an Olympic event.  I saw something on social media recently, though, that really changed the way I have been thinking.  Many of you probably saw it.  It was a list of things that people may complain about, and beside it a reason to be thankful.  For example, “Dishes to do: means food to eat.”  What a wonderful way to transform your thinking; so simple, yet so powerful. It is amazing what an attitude of gratitude does for your soul, and how it changes the simple tasks into things to be thankful for.  Piles of laundry to fold means I get to be a mom and wife to this amazing family that has clothes to wear….and a lot of clothes at that!  Thank you Jesus for these clothes to fold. Thank you for these diapers to change, because it means I get to care for my sweet babies, and thank you for this house to clean, because it means I have a house (and it's a house that I love). 

While going to the grocery store may not be the easiest task, it is time spent with my PRECIOUS babies that will only be this little for so long, and I am SO thankful for that.  As we walk into the store and straight to the bakery, I watch Cole ask for his “chocolate cookie nice” with a smile on his face in the sweetest little voice.  He politely says please and thank you to the lady at the counter, and he is sure to “no share” that cookie with his sister…and my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you Jesus for these moments at the grocery store.

Meal Planning Monday- Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup (and it's actually Monday, y'all!)

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

I thought this YUMMY crock pot chicken enchilada soup would be perfect to share on this rainy Monday!  A few years ago, I went to a wedding couples shower, and each of the hosts brought a different crock pot soup for the guests to enjoy.  I have way more of a tooth for salty than sweet, so I loved this idea.  My friend who hosted brought this delish soup, and I am going to update the blog once I figure out where she got it.  I made a few changes, and we enjoy this meal ALL. THE. TIME.  That's because it is so easy to make, of course. This mama likes anything I can quickly throw in the crock pot in the morning (and it smells SO good cooking all day.)  I love it served with tortilla chips, sour cream and pepper jack cheese.  It is perfect for colder weather. ENJOY! 

From the Store:

2 cans petite diced tomatoes with sweet onion

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 small boneless skinless chicken breasts

10 oz frozen corn

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can medium enchilada sauce

1 onion

1 red pepper

1.5 cups skim milk

sour cream (for topping)

pepper jack cheese (for topping)

tortilla chips (for topping)

1. Chop the pepper and onion (I use a small-medium sized onion.)

2. Drain and rinse the beans.

3. Combine the onion, red pepper, beans, 2 cans petite diced tomatoes and corn in the bottom of the crock pot.

4. Place two chicken breasts on top of the mixture. Make sure they are small chicken breasts (if you use large ones trim them down.)

5. In a separate bowl, stir together the cream of chicken and enchilada sauce.

6. Slowly whisk in 1.5 cups of milk.

The mixture should look like this:

7. Pour mixture over top of chicken breasts.

8. Cook on low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally.

9. Take out chicken breasts and shred.

10. Add the chicken back in to the soup.

11. Cook on low for another hour (or longer)

12. ENJOY!  I love to top the soup with sour cream, tortilla chips, and shredded pepper jack cheese.  It would also be yummy with avocado slices on top (I just have a hard time picking out good avocados!).  Oh and wine...everything is better with wine! ;)

I made this yesterday for a friend, so I don't have a picture of the finished product ready to eat.  I will update if she shares any pictures of her kids enjoying it!  When re-heating, be sure to put it on the stove or back in the crock pot.  It needs to be served HOT.  Also, if needed, add a little skim milk or water when reheating.

Recipe Card:

1. Chop the pepper and onion (I use a small-medium sized onion.)

2. Drain and rinse the beans.

3. Combine the onion, red pepper, beans, 2 cans petite diced tomatoes and corn in the bottom of the crock pot.

4. Place two chicken breasts on top of the mixture. Make sure they are small chicken breasts (if you use large ones trim them down.)  

5. In a separate bowl, stir together the cream of chicken and enchilada sauce. 

6. Slowly whisk in 1.5 cups of milk. 

7. Pour mixture over top of chicken breasts.

8. Cook on low for 6 hours, stirring occasionally. 

9. Take out chicken breasts and shred.

10. Add the chicken back in to the soup.

11. Cook on low for another hour (or longer)

12. ENJOY!  I love to top the soup with sour cream, tortilla chips, and shredded pepper jack cheese.  It would also be yummy with avocado slices on top (I just have a hard time picking out good avocados!).  Oh and wine...everything is better with wine! ;)