Graham Cracker Lasagna

One of my half eaten desserts.

Thanks to my friend Sonya I have a great summer dessert recipe.  I wanted to post it before Labor Day weekend in case you have a cookout to go to and need to bring something to share.  This is sure to be a hit and it is sooooo easy.

Ingredients:
1 box graham crackers
2 boxes pudding
1 container cool whip
1 container chocolate frosting

Directions:

1. Prepare both boxes of pudding together according to package directions.
2. After pudding is done mix in cool whip
3. In 9x13 pan layer graham crackers, half of pudding mixture, graham crackers, other half of pudding mixture and graham crackers.
4. Melt frosting in microwave until it is runny.
5. Pour frosting over the top of last layer of graham crackers
6. Refrigerate to let frosting harden.

Bye Friends...

A couple of weeks ago we had to say a sad goodbye to some close friends of ours.  For the last 2 years we have enjoyed weekly playdates with them and it had to end because they moved across the country.  This post is dedicated to Kara and her family.  Here is the story of our friendship....

When Grace was a baby Matt and I would often take walks around the neighborhood.  Almost every time we walked we saw a couple with their little girl who was a little older than Grace.  We always smiled and waved but never introduced ourselves.  I almost always wondered who they were and if I could have a potential mom friend in the neighborhood.

In August of 2009 we attended another friends' 1st birthday party and guess who was there?  The nice couple with the cute little girl.  We quickly recognized each other and chatted for a little bit.  We realized we were both stay at home moms and planned our first playdate soon after.

At first it was just us and our 2 girls, Grace (4 months) and A (10 months) so we had time to chat and the girls didn't really play together.  We got together every Friday morning and made lunch for each other.  It was super fun trying new recipes on each other and just having a cool ending to the week.

The spring after we started hanging out Kara got pregnant and 3 months later I got pregnant.  You all know I don't love pregnancy due to how I feel an Kara isn't the best at being pregnant either.  So our morning playdates became afternoon playdates to avoid puking on each other.  But we still managed to hang out at least once a week.

Finally our babies were born and we continued to get together switching back to the mornings and for lunch.  The lunches at this point were always pizza.  It's funny what adding 2 babies to the mix could do to our gourmet cooking.  By this time Grace and A played together, asked about each other and really were friends.  I think that is what made the goodbye sad because the girls will miss each other and neither of them has cellphones, facebook or internet yet.

Kara's husband just received his PhD so he had to find a job and he got a great one.  So, I was happy to hear that he will have a good job but sad they had to leave.  They don't even have family in our state so it might be a while before we see them again.  I know friends come and go but I will always remember my friendship with Kara and I'm thankful for her in my life.  I hope we will be able to keep in touch and share pictures and stories of our kids as they continue to grow up.

Swinging in the Park 2

You probably don't remember the original Swinging in the Park post.  When Grace was 5 months old I put her in the baby swing for the first time. Last week I put Caleb in the swing for the first time.  He LOVES it.  He just starts laughing as soon as I start pushing him.

Don't forget to adore those chunky thighs:)

Double trouble.

Thankful Thursday

222. Library books and the countless HOURS Grace wants to sit on my lap reading them
223. 1 year lease signed on out old house
224. Chuck's willingness to help Matt multiple times this week
225. Giggles from kids
226. Low key time to relax
227. Visit from Grandpa and Grandma H.
228. Healthy new niece
229. Time out of the house with Matt and friends who were willing to babysit for free
230. 7 weeks of study and getting to know women better in a women's Bible study

Grace's First Haircut

I totally forgot to post about Grace's first haircut.  Technically she has had some of her hairs cut before.  Two times I tried to wrangle her and trim her hair a little so it would be even across the bottom.  I'm not a huge fan of the grow it for years look.  So, at 10 months and again around 24 months I attempted a trim on Grace.  However, it turned out horrible.  Thankfully, my awesome hairdresser only charges $5 for kids cuts.  It is totally worth not doing it myself!

So, last week on Friday I took Grace to get her first professional haircut.  She did a great job.  She loved sitting in the chair and looking in the big mirror.  It took just over 20 minutes and she sat still the whole time.  The only other thing that can keep her still for 20 minutes is Dora!

Getting her haircut.

All done afte a blow dry (which she loved).

Caleb - 5 Months

All smiles on his 5 month birthday!

Eating and Sleeping:  It was great to have a month where nothing changed in these areas. Caleb still takes 3 naps (8:30, 12, and 3:30) and eats 5 times a day (in the morning, after each nap and at bedtime).  He is also sleeping 12 hours at night.

Milestones:  This month has been fun watching Caleb try new things.  He has shown tons of interest in his toys so he is now attempting to get them.  One way he has been trying to get them is by scooting himself forward with his legs for the last couple of weeks.  In the last couple of days I've also watched him pull a little with his arms.  He hasn't completely gotten up on all 4's yet but he gets up on his knees and elbows or elbows and toes.  This little guy seems to have the will to go.  It will be interesting to see how this scooting thing (which has really only taken him a foot or two) transpires this month.

Caleb's version of sitting up.

Caleb is getting fairly close to being able to sit up.  He can sit and support himself with his hands and leaning over for several minutes.  He has reached his arms up a few times and sat for a split second.  It seems like he prefers to be laying down so I'm not sure how quickly he's going to learn to sit all by himself.

Caleb has also started saying some consonants consistently.  He used to just give us lots of happy shrieks but now he's starting adding in the b, g and m sounds a ton.  He is definitely a social little guy.  If he's laying on the floor and I come over to talk to him and walk away or even look away he often fusses in protest.  He loves other kids too.  If I put him in view of other kids if we're at a friends or church he usually just watches them an laughs.

Thankful Thursday

210. Dollhouses
211. Food and our very full grocery stores, cupboards, refrigerators, gardens, etc...we are so blessed
212. New friend at the park
213. Band-aids
214. Being able to stay in touch with friends through the Internet
215. Free upgrades
216. 5 month old baby
217. Clean floors
218. Dishwasher
219. Washer and Dryer
220. Food processors
221. Grace's excitement over sharing with Caleb