Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ Wrapping up the Year

WOWZER it was a good weekend full of lot's of fun!

First off show off some amazing mom gifts :). I had to buy a vacuum (yes I spelled that wrong on the picture) for myself. Rick bought me two great gifts. I even got a time to get my toes done! Then the SUPER duper of all gifts. My bosses first sent me a Nook Color for Christmas that was JUST awesome. Sadly I had some problems with my WiFi not connecting and few hours on the phone with their CS in India. Sadly nothing wrong with anyone from there but we couldn't understand each other. And all they kept telling me was to buy a new router and WiFi. Then I had problems with downloading books. BUT I would never say anything, my boss was so sweet and asked me if I was having problems like she was. She told me to pack it up and return it and she was picking us all up iPads! I almost died at the amazing generosity and that they would know me so well that I would love to read books on the go. I am so blessed and grateful to have such wonderful bosses that I consider to be family.

New Years Eve we headed to my childhood best friends house for a fun night! She had the Kinex and we all busted out the Dance Centeral. All I have to say is the Old Skool hip hop songs kick you butt! I had to work the next morning at 6am so it was an early night, but fun to hang out :).

And THANKS to Rick who suggested we take the kids to ZooLights. He usually is working but he made time on his day off to go with us. This is the first time we went as a whole family, I usually take the boys by myself. It was cold but so much fun and I was happy to have him along.

And then Sunday my other childhood Best Friend (we all grew up on the same block) had her sons 4th Birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. The kids loved and and of course my little escape artist Caden decided to pull a disappearing act and almost had me in tears! They don't let you leave with out showing your stamp and you and the child MUST have the same stamp but still it freaked me not to be able to find him. Turns out there is a HUGE 9 ft Rocking horse that he crawled up upon and was watching over his panic ridden mom :).

I told you it was busy!! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Weekend Wrap Wednesday ~ A Birthday Party and Zoo Lights

Well it was a lazy Saturday, well that was after I got done with work. It was my busiest Saturday since I've first started. I was on a roll and feeling great. The boys and I stayed home, it was nice just to hang out while the boys played with every toy they got from Christmas. Man why did I buy the hotwheels? Cole of course was indeep with his DS mom bought him. Caden and I even took a nap together ... Yup all three of on the couch Caden on my tummy and Cole by my feet playing his game.

Sunday of course was our busy day we started with Church which we went back after two weeks of being absent, it was so nice to go back. Caden who is usually attacked to my hip saw we were there and he didn't even say good-bye. After Church we head up to my parents house so the boys could run around their house while my poor mom and dad kept saying don't touch that. Rick calls my parents house the museum it's packed full of antiques and just beautiful items that cost more then my car (and yes I bought it new ... so that gives you a thought).

After making my parents break into a sweat we sad our good-byes and headed to a birthday party for my friend 3 y/o. I've known her since I was 9, it's so weird us all having kids. It was funny her mom and aunt said the same thing to me about they couldn't get over us having kids this old. The party was fun Cole was able to bust open the pinata. Cole picked out the gift, he picked out the Car's Theme backpack. I asked him really you think he'll like this? We then picked up a bathroom tub set of race cars and then a cars gift bag. Ok those of you know me know I'm a NUT about themes. If there is a theme to the party that is what I will buy for the gift, I go crazy with it! So this party we didn't get an invite just a text, so no clue on the theme. That was until we got there and found it was the Cars Movie! Yup Cole called that one!!

After the party we jumped in the car and got to the zoo at exactly 5pm, I was so proud of myself I hate being late but it seems lately with the boys it is always happening. We met my friend Anngie and her daughter Kailey for Zoo Lights! I love doing Zoo Lights each year, it's just gorgeous and a great way to get exercise. We walked up and down hills and let me say pulling a wagon with Caden who is like 35 lbs and Kailey who is about 40 was no walk in the zoo ... LOL oh come on you laughed! Cole pulled a good amount of the time except for the hills, but man there were a ton of hills ... LOL. The lights were beautiful, we had to check out the aquarium, the sharks, feed the goats and they now have a Camel you can ride. My girlfriend was amazing and paid for all three kids to rid the Camel, at $5 a piece that little one turn around the circle just didn't seem worth it to us, but the kids loved it!!! We left the house at 10:30am and returned home around 7:30pm, it was a long day but so much fun! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Family Op time.

Ok I look extra fluffy I'm blaming the 3 layers of clothes!

Bottom Right is the picture overlooking the whole zoo lights.

The Shark jaw is inside the Aquarium, it's a must pic everytime we go!

Yes that is not me in the picture the boys wouldn't do one with me :(

Yup that would be the Camel Ride!

I thought Caden would cry but he was first on!

Cole pulling Caden and Kailey in the wagon

Yes that is a Tiger face, it leads you to the Tigers

Some of my favorite sites

The Rainbow is at the kidzone

The Polar Bears of course at the Polar Bears

We had to stop to feed the goats! (Priscilla making you proud)

And of course had to visit the Meerkats (hello Lion King)

Warming up in the Aquarium and visiting the fish

Caden in the Sea Anemone

(My dad use to have a tank a fly these in from Hawaii)

And we end with some family time.

Well Cole ditched us to go visit his neighbor buddy.

Caden acting like a bird for Rick's donut.

Why Did I even do my hair? (Make Something Monday)

Well technically I made this last night, but I'm blogging about it Monday :). Of course I need to tell a story first, so weed down to the bottom for my goods that I made.

Yesterday after the kids literally driving me batty I decided it was time to venture out. I bundled all the kids up, poor Caden was in 3 layers! He looked like a mini Michelin Man, he could barely put his arms down. When we got in the car little flutters of snow started coming down. I was like no biggy boys yesterday it did the same thing we'll be fine. On our way there Anngie called and decided to turn back, I'm like oh girl it's nothing but a little snow. Well let me tell you, we got to the Zoo around 4:30. Tarra was running a little late, so we sat in the car watching the flakes get bigger and bigger. I looked over and saw it was sticking, now isn't this going to be pretty with the lights and all the snow! SUCKER, yup Mother Nature was making fun of me, you see the flakes was her sticking her tongue out at me! Cole turned to me and said mom God is making it snow, an hour later he said God you can stop making it snow. Got to love kids thinking.

So we venture to the gates which were closed and we had to wait in line, thinking no worries were members it's easy. Again SUCKER snow was coming down in heaps, I had Caden wrapped in two blankets where just his little eyes were visible. They open up on member line and then a second, as I try to walk over to the open window you know since i was second in line. The lovely gentleman behind me sidesteps me and steps in, Happy Holidays to you too!

Even though it was SUPER cold the scene was gorgeous, the lights with the snow was a sight to see. We actually were there until 6:30pm walking around, mind you my cute boots are so not "Winter" boots, so every step I took I had lovely squish of water come up between my toes.

Along with my wet glove from wiping the snow off Caden every few minutes. It was so funny you see these little eyes and a snow cap that covered the blanket. We stopped and got hot coco which mind you was in such a cute little kids cup. Did I mention that cute cup was $3.50!! Yup told the boys hold onto those with your dear life. The same cup that later when we got into car I look at Roy where is your cup. Shoulder shrug I threw it away! You threw away a heavy duty plastic cup? The same one I told you to hold on to? Same shoulder shrug (ugh mental head slap).

What an amazing experience it was cold but for the most part the kids loved it and minus my wet soaks and brittle fingers (that I thought might need to be amputated) it was a lovely night.
What was even better was the smell when we opened up the front door, no silly it was a good smell. I had the Pot Roast going in the crockpot (recipe on the bottom of post) and the new bread recipe in the breadmaker was done too. Dinner was a success Roy even had seconds! I guess I do something right ... LOL.

On a side note - Host people rescheduled for tonight, fingers crossed it goes well.

P.S. Another side note the snow melted by 10pm last night, talk about Mother Nature giving me a Raspberry! =D

I'm ready to leave the house! Why did I even do my hair will be the question I ask soon! So pretty look it's starting to snow.

Caden Bundled up!

Mommys are ready!

The Boys in the snow.Got to do the Shark Jaw Picture.

Impromtu Snow Ball Fight.

Feeding the Goats

How nice is that a beach scene with snow.

Not so pretty, the parking lot!

The start of the Pot Roast

Apples on the bottom.

Out of the broiler and into the crockpot. Look It's Ready!

Cook Time: 12 hours,
Ingredients:
4 lb. pork loin roast
salt and pepper
6 apples, cored and quartered
1/3 cup apple juice
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. ground ginger

Preparation:Trim roast well, then rub roast with salt and pepper. Brown pork roast under broiler to remove excess fat; drain well.

Place apple quarters in bottom of 4-6 quart crockpot. Place roast on top of apples. Combine apple juice, brown sugar, and ginger. Spoon over top surface of roast. Cover slow cooker and cook on Low 10-12 hours, until done. Slice to serve. Serves 8-10