TROUBLE!

So AJ decided to re-do our hardwood floors in the playroom this weekend - she did a little bit of "art" on her feet as well! All I can say is thank goodness for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and for God who has answered all my recent prayers for more patience! She was SO proud of herself and was very eager to show it all to me and I was SO proud of myself not loosing my cool while I explained to her how markers are for paper or coloring books and not for floors or walls. Needless to say the markers, crayons and colored pencils are now out reach and are a mom monitored activity! Lesson to self - almost always when kids are too quiet for anymore then about 2 minutes, they are up to no good!

The pics are of after I tried scrubbing the floors with the Swiffer, by hand and with my tears! Only those erasers did the trick and I didn't think of them right away...once I did, Alex & I were jumping for joy!

BIG BOY!

For some reason this weeks trip to Babies R Us was just surreal - we have a BOY and a really BIG BOY at that! Not only did we get him big boy socks - you know the ones that totally come to mind when you think of boys socks but he is in size 3-6 months shirts and pants and really needs a size 2 diaper! I love each and every day with my little guy and I now can't imagine life with out him! How did Alex and I get SO lucky - first AJ, and now Dylan - LIFE IS GOOD!

Cousins!

Here is how they measure up! Julia is about 5 months and Dylan is about 2! They don't know it yet, but they are going to have SO much fun together!

Just as much fun as their two older and very silly cousins AJ & Chris have!

Dress Up!

This post is to give major props to Uncle Mark for being a really great Uncle! He played dress up with AJ last time he was here! How lucky she is to have him!

1st School Pictures!

Here are AJ's very first set of school pictures - I absolutely love them and think that they came out really great!!! Even though she is the youngest in her class by about 6 months the teacher keeps on reassuring me on how great she is doing and how much fun she is having the whole time. She always runs in and comes out with a huge smile very excited to tell me about her day!

2 Months!

At two months old Dylan is an absolute love! He smiles all the time and has the bluest eyes. He talks to us like crazy - he makes the best coo's and gurgles ever! He loves to eat and is packing on the pounds - he is in size 3-6 months and has quickly outgrown so many clothes already! He has been sleeping pretty well for us and gives us 6 hours at night, wakes for a bottle and then give us 4 more - if we could only get him to skip that middle of the night bottle we would be golden! He loves his big sister and the two of them are so cute together - he gets really wide eyed when he watches her. He even lies on the bed and watches a little tv with her - I guess he likes all the colors of her cartoons! He loves to be rocked, loves bath time, loves his bouncy seat, likes his play mat and likes looking at all his brightly colored sesame street friends - he smiles like crazy at them! He sits pretty good in his bumbo chair - he has nice head control. And of course he knows how to cry like a champ when he is gassy, unhappy, hungry or just wants to be held and snuggled! I can't believe how much joy he has brought us in jut 2 short months or how quickly it all flies by!

Bacon, Cheddar, Mushroom, Onion Meatloaf

If you are looking for something really delicious and really unhealthy, this one is adapted from a Paula Deen Recipe and it came out great - I mean what wouldn't that has bacon, mayo, mushrooms, cheese and butter in it!

• 1 pound ground beef
• 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 onion diced up
• small container of mushrooms diced up
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons honey mustard

In a small frying pan melt butter and cook mushrooms and onions in it till tender. Remove from heat and let cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, the next 6 ingredients and the mushroom and onions and mix.

In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mustard. Add about half of the mixture into meat and mix well forming into a large ball.

Press meat mixture into a loaf pan, spread remaining ketchup mixture over loaf. Bake for about 45 minutes.

1st Haircut!

Today at 2 1/2 years old AJ FINALLY had her first haircut! She looks the same - adorable as always - they pretty much just cleaned it up and cut away all the unevens and whispys! She was a good girl and was happy to sit in on the truck and watch a video. When she was done she happily accepeted her certificate and lollypop!

6 Weeks!

We had Dylan's wellness visit today and this is how our little man measures up at 6 weeks (he was last measured at 2 weeks)-

He weights in at 11 lb 8 oz - up 4 1/2 lbs and is in the 75% for weight.

He is 22 3/4 in tall - up 2 3/4 in and is in the 75% for height.

His head is 15 in in circumference and is up 1 3/4 and is in the 75% for head size.

We have a big boy on our hands but as you can see, very proportionate!

Smiles!!!

At 6 weeks old I am proud to say that we have a chubby, happy, smily boy! Every time he gives us one of his big smiles, it just melts our hearts away! There is nothing better then smiling at your baby to get an even bigger one back!

Chicken Cacciatore

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 yellow pepper sliced

1 onion sliced

2 garlic cloves sliced thin

1 can diced tomatoes

1/4 cup chicken broth

oregano

parsley

basil

salt

pepper

four

olive oil

Season the chicken with salt & pepper, then lightly dust with flour. Heat about 2 TBS olive oil in a pan and brown the chicken in it. Remove the chicken from the pan and add the peppers and onions and saute for a few minutes, then add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the chicken broth and tomatoes and stir. Add the chicken to the top and season with the parsley, basil & oregano. Cover and cook over low to medium heat for about 30 minutes basting the top of the chicken occasionaly. Serve over orzo pasta!

1st Day of Preschool

AJ had her first day of preschool today and she did great! I knew she would love it but I couldn't help dread the first drop off - I just wanted it to go smooth and I didn't want her to cry. Well it went better then I could have ever dreamed - a little too well if you ask me - not one tear shed - she could care less to leave her beloved mother! HA! We were waiting at the door with some other kids and when the teacher came out - I was holding AJ's hand and as I bent down to kiss her bye, she was yanking my hand away and was ready to run in with the other kids - she never even looked back! The teacher said she was happy the whole time - not once did she ask for me or act sad like she missed me (weep, weep, sniff, sniff!). At school she made me a picture for 2010 and had circle time where they talk about the day and month and weather and stuff like that - well when she got home she told me it was "Jan-rary in the New Year"! She met me with a smile when class was over and told me she wants to go back! As sad as it is to for me to see her grow up, it makes me happy she is such a secure and well adjusted child who happily runs off to school to play with the other kids and have fun learning!

Happy 2010!

This year we rung in the new year home! AJ went to the doc early in the day to find out she had pink eye and the weather was pretty yuck, so we were happy to stay in! Alex and I hung around in our sweats, watched some tv, ate some fattening snacks and drank some champagne! Being with the man I love and a smooch at the stroke of 12:00 AM was all I wanted or needed to make my night special! Then a quick kiss for AJ & Dylan and it was off to sleep!

New Years Day we spent at my moms. The whole family was there and some of my cousins got to meet baby Dylan for the first time. I made pasta fagioli soup (it was a hit) and there was lots of other goodies - sloppy joe sandwiches (the nj cold cut and cole slaw kind, not the ground meat with special sauce kind), penne vodka and all kinds of awesome dips and chips and lots! Our Mountaineers lost both in the Gator Bowl and in Basketball, but it didn't kill our spirits. All 4 Matrale's still looked good, dressed for the part!

On Sunday I was under the weather but Alex, AJ & Dylan had a awesome day with the Carras cousins. AJ had a blast running around like crazy with her cousins - Matthew, Nicholas & Christopher. Great Grandpa Matrale told a bunch of his usual stories, Pop Pop did his normal running around picking up the food and other stuff (including soup for me and wipes since I forgot to pack them and Dylan had TWO poops!), and Grandma, Aunt Marie and Tracy were all happy to fawn all over baby Dylan!

What a great way to start off 2010 - with all the family that we love and hold so near and dear!