HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY WILLIAM ALLEN!

I can hardly believe that two years ago we met the sweetest and cutest baby boy!  You came into this world screaming and yelling and you can still scream, yell and throw a tantrum like no other!!!

Then a minute later you can give hugs and kisses and make this tantrums seem like nothing.  You give the World's BEST hugs EVER!  I love getting you out of your crib because you wrap your little arms around my neck and give a tight squeeze!  Today after your nap I did not want you to let go... the last tight squeeze from my baby, my one year old... tomorrow it will be from a big boy 2 year old!!!  Tear Tear;)

Liam you are full of spunk and Energy.  You can make me laugh one minute the next be pulling out my hair and turning it gray, as you decide to do a belly flop from our bed to the floor or that you are going after your sister in full force with your mouth wide open and hands ready to rumble:)  But within seconds you can look at her and give her a kiss and hug!  Why can't you two always be like that???  The kissing and hugging part!!  There is no doubt that you will be the class clown of your senior class!  You love to make others laugh and you are good at it!  I think I will be getting to know many teachers very well:)

 

 

Your favorite things are cars, trucks and anything with wheels!  Or anything Emma is playing with!  You idolize her and do EVERYTHING she does and wants to play with everything she does.  Most of the time you guys can get along and play with the same thing.  You also LOVE the Bouncy house but that has been put away for awhile!  After I thought you broke your leg I figured it was best to be put away until after our trip to Florida!!

 

You are much more verbal then Emma was!  I guess that is the second child.  You will repeat anything and I can understand everything you say.  I can't even begin to count how many things you say... It is a lot!  No worries there! 

 

Favorite food... nothing!  That is why you are around the 15% in weight!  Will be interesting what the doctors say about that at your well visit.  You have always been on the skinny side so I am sure they will not be concerned.  I am lucky if you eat two bites at any meal!!

I will update height and weight after your visit;)

YOU ARE A DADDY'S BOY!!!1

These past two years have been crazy:)  You add so much life to this house and I am so blessed that we are your mommy and daddy and Big Sister:)  I can't wait to see all the changes this year!

Soups

With the weather back in the 20's and teens after our January Thaw in NY... soups sound wonderful!!!  Over at Kelly's Korner she is doing a link up with soup recipes and I decided to join in... hoping to get some new ideas.

These are two that I really like... Although these are not healthy they are tasty... isn't that what good food is all about???  Fatty and tasty:)

Cream of Broccoli and Cheddar soup- From William Sonoma Soup cook book
1 1/2 pounds broccoli trimmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
5 Cups Chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups milk
1/2 pound cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. coarsley chop broccoli and set aside
2. in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until it begins to brown 5-7 minutes. sprinkle in flour and saute, stirring for about 1 minute more. whisking, slowly pour in the stock. add the chopped broccoli, thyme, and lemon juice and bring to boil. reduce to low and cover, simmer until the broccoli is very tender about 20 m inutes.
3. in small batches, puree the soup in a food mil, return the puree to the pan and stir in milk and bring to a simmer over low heat
4. sprinkle the cheese into the soup, stir over low heat until cheese melts


The second I love is from here... Crockpot makes it even better!!

(Recipe is from here )

EASY CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP

1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns {I used Ore Ida}

3 14oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese {don’t use fat free.  It WON’T melt!!!}

Hope you enjoy and I can't wait to try some of the ones that are linked to Kelly's Korner:)

Family shots

Last weekend was suppose to be around 60 and I thought it would be a perfect day to get some outdoor shots.  The shots came out great but it was windy and chilly.  I guess I should have thought it would not be 60 at 10AM and where we were headed was up on some hills... the wind would be kicking... Oh well I still love how they came out.  Goal for next time is to get Liam to smile:)

Winter Wonderland

This weekend was Gorgeous.  Snowy white ground, sunny skies and "warm" temperatures:)  We decided to take advantage of this "warm" winter day and head to Highland Forest to go on a Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride.  It was a bit of a wait but the kids did great waiting in their snowsuits (so Liam could barely move!) and they had a great time on the sleigh and LOVED the horses of course!

Waiting...

 Sitting by the fire.  I wanted to get a picture sitting in front of the fire but... just seemed a little too close for these clumsy West Kids:)

The angle of these two made me laugh:)

My little monkey very focused on the horses!

Emma got to help guide the horses on the sleigh!

Before taking off

On the trail!

They both wanted to play in the snow...