Croquettes

This is what we got in our basket this week.

I only purchased one because it has been a while and I was worried with it being winter, what we would get.

I was bummed we only bought one because my kids love everything we got. The strawberries we ate for French Toast Sunday. Lucas has been eating the pears for snack at school. We used the tomatoes for Nacho night, and I used the Watermelon and Pineapple for FHE tonight.  What to do with potatoes?

My Grandmother bought me this pan and it came today!

I decided to make Baked Potato Croquettes (a recipe she sent to me) and Steaks for dinner tonight.

This is what they look like before they are cooked.

and then crispy all around when baked.

Oh my, were they good.

What a perfect side to steak too, because they aren't "heavy" like a heap of mashed potatoes are.

If anyone wants the recipe, let me know.

I have big plans for this pan. My mushroom loving husband has already requested Stuffed Mushrooms next week. :)

Since we started having FHE on Tuesday (b/c of Nathan's school) I don't feel as rushed, and our lessons and activities are much better than they used to be. In fact, tonight's lesson was on Agency and I had Lucas in tears! Something must have gotten through because he was praying all night to make the right choices.

Our "treat" was Pineapple and Watermelon Kabobs, but Nathan forgot to soak the wooden sticks so we gave them toothpicks and that was a hit too.

Unless you are Juliet. She doesn't even need the toothpick or fork to enjoy fruit.

Game Night!

Lucas's School does something fun each month.

This month was Game Night at the school. Admission is 1 dozen cookies, and 2 hours of open game play is what you get. There are several games out for the kids to play, lots of treats to eat, and the best part? Your friends are there!  They also have a raffle for prizes at the end too!

Nathan took Lucas and Bridget and I stayed home with the littles.

Scarlett didn't even want to go. She had a 4 hour play date with her very best friend, Emma today and was wiped out.  We read books together while the older kids were gone.

Nathan said the kids were so good and that Bridget fit right in. 

Good thing, since she is going there next year!

There were about 180 people there and lots of game playing.

Nathan came home and said we needed this game in our closet. Its called Rhino Hero and some one is getting it for their birthday in a few weeks. I just bought it, and a few others that looked pretty awesome from this company. ;)

The best part? Robert was there!

Lucas and Bridget both walked home with prizes in their hands from the raffle.

I love that their school does fun stuff like this, and that the teachers come and mingle with the parents and kids on their off time. 

Friday Afternoon Surprise

Nathan's awesome boss, Arun, told Nathan he could leave early on Friday.

They didn't have much to do, and Nathan is on call all weekend, so basically he would still be working, just from home. Nathan didn't tell me until it was time to pick up Bridget from school. I was SO excited.

No one was as excited as Juliet.

The garage opened up, and the kids all looked around and ran to the door.

"Daddy! Daddy!" it was in unison!

So, we decided to take advantage of the BEE-UTIFUL weather we had yesterday (and today) and let the kids ride bikes, walk the loop, and go to the school and play at the park.

Juliet was dying to get outside.

She is always up for an adventure.

 Mason couldn't handle the incline on the drive way. Haha.

Bridget, Scarlett, and Lucas were riding outside without jackets. 

We hardly saw them because they were having such a great time.

Mason has these incredible dimples on the side of his cheeks. 

I finally got a picture of them. Aren't they adorable?

 He was trying to climb on the bikes, it was hysterical.

This kid has SO many expressions. I die.

 While this was happening, Nathan was having a great time playing with the kids.

Here she is catching her breath.

She is such an adventurer. I love it.

No matter what, they are always together.

Mason was mad about something here. I think this picture is so funny.

Nathan is such a great Dad. 

 I love Colorado for our awesome 58 degree pockets in the Winter. I love that instead of hanging out with "the guys" Nathan always chooses us.  I love so much about yesterday, I wish I could bottle it up and open it up on our not-so-great days.

Luckily, those not-so-great days are slowly becoming less and less.

Hair Remorse

Mason has needed a hair cut for a while.

Today, was just the day we NEEDED to do it because he woke up from nap like this...

 It looks like he had it up in a pony tail, haha.
So, I decided it was time.

He didn't freak out or anything. Nathan cut it on a 6 and took off soooooo much!

Here it is...

He gave his pirate face seal of approval.

In all honesty, I didn't even realize it was "that long" until today. Now I am sort of embarrassed that he was walking around with that mop for so long. Haha.

Just for fun, Lucas's first Hair Cut at 7 months.

Not much to show for it. Lucas's issue was not length, it was unevenness.
Here is Lucas after the cut.

I'd say they were brothers. :)
When Mason woke up this morning I almost thought he was Lucas. They look so much alike now.
I guess I am not second guessing the cut as much as I am sad he is growing up.
It is weird to think each kid has had their official "first hair cut" now.
There are so many firsts that are about to happen with Mason, and it makes me sad to think that they will also become lasts.

Oh well, moving on, right?

New York Day Six

We had several interruptions our last night in the hotel. Some from the neighbors. some from room service to the wrong room, so we slept in and enjoyed our king sized bed. Which we actually ended up hating...well, it depends on who you ask. Nathan enjoyed his extra room because he thinks our Queen at home is pretty much like this...

found here

I hated not having him next to me, and he is so used to sleeping on the very edge of the bed, that the GIANT bed we had, was completely worthless. LOL. Anyway, we packed it up and got going. Everywhere we went we saw these cabbage/heads of something all throughout Manhattan. I don't know what they are, but they are so cool.

We grabbed a walking breakfast and headed to ABC studios, Juliard, and the Temple!

This temple is incredible, you can't hear a peep from the streets on the inside.

I am glad we took our last day slow. I mean, how often do you get time without your kids?

How often do you get to go on a trip like this?

Every time I go to New York I miss my Grandpa. 

I think Juliet looks JUST like him. Blue eyes and everything. :) 

When ever we would go, or my parents would go, they would bring us New York food back. This is one of my Dad's favorites, so we brought Black and Whites home for the kids. 

We hopped on the plane and said good bye to NYC...for now.

It was like 7 degrees when we deboarded the plane. Cindy picked us up, and then she went home.

The kids could hardly wait to see Nathan...

haha, and me too.

It was a wonderful time spent together, exploring and discovering new things.

I am glad we went without them, I missed them, but was glad to have the "break."

We talked to them everyday, and I left little notes for them in their packets of clothes, in their pockets, in their socks. They had notebooks to write in, and I wrote them each a letter. Lucas read everything to the girls, and they all were very good for Gary and Cindy (at least that's what they tell me)

We made tacos for dinner and the kids LOVED them.
We stayed up waaaay too late talking and playing with them.

PS they Loved the cookies!

New York Day Five

We got up early and decided to join the joggers of NY at Central Park. We didn't run, but we did stroll through. It was so foggy and eerie. Even though there were no leaves, it was still breathtaking. You couldn't hear the hustle and bustle of the city at all. In fact, because it was so foggy, you couldn't even SEE the city!

I felt like we were in a scary movie, but it was so cool.

 Hey there, Robin!

 There were several gazebos strewn through out central park. We only saw the west side, but wow!

 Can you see the buildings?

After the park we strolled through and found the American Natural History Museum.

This is where they filmed Night at the Museum.

We are going to watch this on Family Movie Night this week.

 

We went to my Uncle's apartment to have brunch and to say goodbye to my cousins, and grandma, and then went to Rockefeller Center.

 We were going to ice skate, but the lines were to long, and we needed to get moving.

We went in and decided not to spend the $40 to go to the top. It was too foggy and I wanted to keep going. Haha.

We toured inside and then continued on.

When I was younger, my sister and I got to see the Rockettes Christmas Show and they picked my sister to go on stage and ride the sleigh with Santa. 

There is a HUGE Lego store in Rockefeller Plaza.

 We picked up something Lego for Lucas. It was a Statue of Liberty, Lego'd.

Then we walked up to St. Patricks Cathedral.

Amazing.

Then we went to The Plaza Hotel.

Bridget LOVES Fancy Nancy Books, but she also loves Eloise.

We HAD to go to the Plaza Hotel to see if she was there.

She was! The Desk Clerk said she had just stolen his pen and went to the basement of the hotel. :)

 There were 2 Eloise shops. One for sweets, and one for all things Eloise.

When we come again with the kids, I have a whole day planned here JUST for Bridget!

We also had some Macaroons.

 Pistachio, Strawberry, and Vanilla Bean. They were ALL delicious.

We spent a lot of time there, but had to move on.

We opted to not take a carriage ride in the city. Too slow. :)

Another cool building.

We decided to go back to the Museum and check it out. It was so close to our hotel so we jumped on the subway and went to the museum.  We got there at 4:30 and they close at 5:45. Admission is $25 a person, and as Nathan was pulling out the cash the ticket guy said, "we are free the last hour, so go ahead and go back!" We were so stoked! We went in and saw some amazing things. It wasn't even that busy!

This was around the time that my MIL called Nathan to tell us that their furnace was out.

Their house was in the 40s or something and that it was too cold in the house to stay there. They were headed to our warm house for the night. :(

 

We walked to the hotel and Nathan grabbed some pizza. Sicilian is square, regular is triangle.

Look how HUGE the pieces are!

We watched Downton, stayed in the room, and had a fun date night in!

We did a lot today, but I am glad we saw everything we wanted to.