whats for dinner

Tonight we are having some friends over and I decided to make homemade sloppy joes. Thought I would share-Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

1 onion

1 green pepper

4 cloves garlic

1 T olive oil

Salt and Pepper

3 pounds ground beef

1 T Montreal Steak Seasoning

1 C ketchup

1 1/2 C Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce

3 T apple cider vinegar

1 t Worcestershire

1 t liquid smoke

3 T brown sugar

1/2 t chili powder

1 T water

Kohens chair

Kohen got this chair from my parents for Christmas. He loves it. He sits and reads books in it all the time. Kohen LOVES, LOVES to read books. I like it but its also SO time consuming. I just have to remember that when he is sixteen he wont be running to me saying bookie, bookie...so I need to cherish it now! =)

Kohen 19/20 months

So its been a while since I have had an update on Kohen. He is learning new words every day and amazes me how he can put things together in his little brain. Such as, papa's truck, or dada hat....how do kids get that?! I love watching him grow and learn. Kohen is now in 2T pants and 3T shirts and growing like a weed. He eats amazingly (I have never had any complaints with his eating) he will eat just about anything you put in front of him, unless he isn't feeling well.

Kohen is a very active boy and loves being where ever I am....a little annoying at times but he loves helping me do laundry, clean-up and putting dishes (his plastic ones) away. Cant really complain, right? Kohen doesn't watch too much TV...probably b/c I don't have it on during the day, but if Im making dinner I will put on BOZ -colors and shapes and he will watch it for about 10 sec at a time. Im hoping that he will watch more learning DVDs by the time the baby comes but if he doesn't thats fine too.

We are teaching him 'come here' and cleaning up our toys before we go down for our naps or nigh, night. I am also teaching him his colors-which he has learned green and blue and can also count to 2. I know big whoop, but I still think its pretty cool. Kohen knows his please and thank yous and he very happy to say both...for now!

Kohen is going through a phase where he really doesn't want to be bother by other kids. If he goes to them then thats fine, but if they come to him hes not real sure about it. My friends all tell me that there kids did the same thing at about this age so Im not worried. We went over to a friends house for dinner and Kohen and there little girl played so well. Jordan and I both thought it was b/c this little girl was quite like Kohen and not all up in his face. They played for over 2 hours. It was so fun to watch.

Kohen sleep the past few weeks was a little distrupted but we are doing fine now. I tried to bring him down to one nap and that didn't go over well. He started waking in the middle of the night and only taking a 1 hour 1/2 nap. So we are now at 2 naps again and he is doing great.

Heres Kohen schedule-

7-wake

breakfast, bath, doing chores with mom

9:00-nap

10:30-wake

11:00-lunch

earns, walk outside, play with dogs, learning activity

1:30-nap

3:30-wake

Independent play in room or family room

5:30-dinner

one on one time with dad

7:00-lights out

for a two week period this last month kohen was going down at 7:30 and waking early b/c he was over tired. I figured out the problem and his sleeping the past week has been amazing!

Rainy day projects!

Over half done staining Kohens new playground. So fun!

Painted the new dresser/changing table for the nursery.

Side table my dad built. Painted black to match the changing table!

That little boy of mine poem

Im going to get this in vinyl and put it on a canvas in Kohens room. Im curently reading, "bringing up boys" (Which I love and recommend it to anyone that has boys). This poem is in the book and it is so true to me. I just love it!

This little boy of Mine

Two eyes that shine so bright

Two lips that kiss goodnight,

Two arms that hold me tight,

That little boy of mine.

No one could ever know how much your coming has meant.

Because I love you so, you're something heaven has sent.

You're all the world to me.

You climb upon my knee.

To me you'll always be,

That little boy of mine.

Christmas Goodies

The few weeks leading up to Christmas my mother and I made A LOT of Christmas goodies. I thought I would share with you some of our favorites.

CREAMY DREAMY FUDGE

4 C sugar
1 can evaporated milk
1 C butter
2 large Hershey Chocolate Candy Bars
1 12 oz package milk chocolate chips
1 7 oz jar marshmallow cream

1. Put the sugar, milk and butter into a large sauce pan.
2. Stir it all together over medium high heat. Bring it to a boil while you continue stirring.

Once the mixture has reached a "hard boil" (this means it keeps boiling, even while you are stirring) continue cooking for 5 minutes while you stir.
3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Hershey Chocolate Bars, Chocolate Chips and Marshmallow Cream. Mix it well so that all the ingredients are well combined.
4. Pour the fudge into a buttered 9x13 pan.
5. Let the fudge set and cool for about 1 hour. After it has cooled down you can cover the pan with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge. It also freezes really well.

Caramels! Rich and Buttery

Yield: 1 jelly roll pan (about 130 caramels) 1 cup butter 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan. 2. Add your brown sugar. Stir it all around until it dissolves. 3. Add the sweetened condensed milk. 4. And the corn syrup. 5. Now bring the mixture to a boil, while stirring. Stirring is key here. Don't stop stirring. 6. The mixture will need to boil for 20-30 minutes or until the temperature on your candy thermometer reads between 235-240. HOWEVER...I have found candy thermometers to be a bit sensitive and inaccurate at times. Most of the time when I make candy I don't even use one. There is a little trick I will show you. Ice water is going to be your pal. When you are approaching 230 degrees on your candy thermometer, dip your spoon into the caramel, then into the ice water. Let it hang out for just about 10 seconds or so. Then press your finger into the caramel. If the candy holds the finger indentation. 7. Remove your caramel from the heat and add some vanilla. Stir until well combined 8. Pour the caramel into a buttered jelly roll pan. Let the caramels cool and set. This should take about 30 minutes.9. I like to cut them with a pizza wheel. Scissors also work well. 10. Cut yourself up some wax paper and you are set to wrap your fabulous caramels.. M and M Sugar Cookies 1 C butter, softened 1 1/2 C sugar 2 eggs 1 1/2 t vanilla 3 C flour 2 t baking powder 1 t baking soda 2 t cream of tartar dash of salt 1 medium bag (12 oz) M and M's 1. In a stand mixer, or with hand held beaters cream the butter and sugar for about 3 minutes, or until fluffy. 2. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix for 2 more minutes. 3. In a separate small mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients. Add to the butter mixture and mix until well combined. 4. Pour in your M and M's and mix just until combined. Don't mix too long here guys and gals... 5. Form into round balls (about 2 inches in size) and lay onto a cookies sheet. I like to smash the dough down just a little bit with the palm of my hand. 6. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes (about 6 minutes at 325 in a convection oven) or until you see the cookies start to crack. Take them out of the oven and let them finish cooking on the hot sheet for about 5 minutes. 7. Remove from the cookie sheet onto a wire rack to finish cooling. CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER BALLS 1 cup peanut butter* 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme 1 1/2 cups crisp rice cereal 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips 4 teaspoons shortening Directions In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter and marshmallow creme; add cereal and stir until well coated. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and shortening. Microwave, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes or until chips are melted;stir until smooth. Roll cereal mixture into 1-in. balls; dip in chocolate. Place on a waxed paper-lined pan. Refrigerate until set. York Peppermint Patty Brownies Yield: 40 small brownies, they are very rich...cut them small Time: 45 minutes + refrigerate overnight 1 C butter + 1T to coat the pan 8 -1 oz squares unsweetened chocolate 5 eggs 3 3/4 C sugar 2 t vanilla 1/2 t salt 1/2 t almond extract 1 2/3 C flour 1 C semi sweet chocolate chips 2 bags York Peppermint Patties (the generic brand has been known to make this recipe flop. I would advice buying the good stuff) 1. Line the bottom of a 9x13 pan with tin foil and grease it with butter. 2. Microwave the unsweetened chocolate and butter for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each cooking interval. Keep cooking and stirring until the chocolate and butter are melted. Set aside. 3. In a mixing bowl (or in your stand mixer) beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt and almond extract for 3-4 minutes. 4. Add the melted chocolate mixture and flour. Mix until incorporated. 5. Stir in the chocolate chips. 7. Spread half of the batter into the buttered pan. 8. Unwrap your peppermint patties and line them up over the top of the bottom layer of batter. 9. Cover the patties with the second half of the batter. 10. Bake at 425 for 23 minutes. This part is a little tricky. Stick a knife in the top layer of brownie and be sure that it comes out clean before you take them out of the oven. 11. Cool on a wire rack and then refrigerate at least 6 hours. NANIMO BARS 1st layer--melt ingredients together in saucepan 1/2 c. butter 1/4 c. sugar 5 T. cocoa *Remove from heat and add: 1 egg 1 3/4 c. graham crumbs 3/4 c. coconut 1/2 c. walnuts (optional) *Press into greased 9x13 pan *While mixing 2nd layer, put this in the freezer 2nd layer--mix in mixer 1/2 c. butter, softened 3 T milk 2 T custard powder (or I substitute vanilla pudding powder) 2 c. icing sugar *Spread over 1st layer and then put in the fridge while making 3rd layer 3rd layer: 1 1/3 c. chocolate chips 4 T butter * Melt over LOW heat. If mixture is too thick, add a little milk--it will spread much better. *Spread over 2nd layer and refrigerate. These are sooo yummy. They also freeze well. Enjoy!

The Boy!

Kohen loves running around after his bath naked. I had to capture it this morning. Quite the physique...huh!? =)

The Painting is DONE!

We finished up all the painting today. We got carpet coming hopefully within the next two weeks. Next up on my to-do list is staining the playground and painting an old dresser. I love projects!

Canvas

I ordered a Canvas photo from Canvas-on-demand (I bought it through groupon.com) The website had a deal, buy a 126 dollar canvas and get it through Groupon.com for 42 dollars. Ive been wanting a canvas photo for our family room for a while and so I jumped on the deal. Its a 16 X 24 and will go on the wall in our family with two small shelves to each side. Can't wait to hang it!

Re-model

This past weekend we scrapped off the popcorn ceiling in the new nursery. A lot easier then I first thought. We also painted the walls a slate color. Next is painting the ceiling white and putting up the black curtains. Then we tackle the poo brown color carpet....which will eventually be a creamy light tan color. =) Wish us luck....

Christmas 2010

We had such an amazing Christmas this year. Kohen was full of excitement and amazement with all the new experiences going on around him. We look forward to 2011 and all that it will bring. New baby, big boy beds, terrible twos, re-modeling home?....only time will tell.

Jordan and I stocked each others stockings. I gave him misc tools for is shop and he gave me misc tools for my kitchen. I loved it!

Kohen got lots of Elmo, John Deere, books, art supplies, and TRUCKS! He loves his trucks. Here's a few pictures to highlight this year Christmas. Blessings to you and your family in 2011.

Running to see what Santa brought for him Christmas morning.

A Tonka Truck

Silly mugga-No words for this picture. =)

Me and my baby! Love him so much!

Practice makes perfect

Opening stockings

Kohen loves Elmo and Sesame street!