Mini-Vacation

This past week Kyle, Riley and I had a chance to go on a mini-vacation.  Riley was such a trooper because it was a jam-packed 36 hours!  We first headed out to run some errands and then headed up to Schaumburg to visit Legoland.  It wasn't as exciting as we were expecting, but Riley did enjoy riding the "train". 

The disappointment didn't last long because we were off to Chick-Fil-A for dinner!  They had a play place so after we ate Riley got to go in with the kids and play.  I think he went down the slide about 1,000 times!  Then we were off to check into our hotel.  We decided to get a hotel room for the night so Riley could go swimming. He is such a little fish and will be swimming before we know it!

The next morning we were off to take Riley to his first (official) movie!  We took him when he was 2 months old, but that doesn't really count.  He did amazing and sat quietly through the whole movie!

Hopefully we have as much fun on the next mini-vacation as we did on this one!

Tara

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

I have a friend (Stephanie Tierney) from high school that is doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this year.   The walk is on June 6th and she is raising money to "help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures." 

This is an event that I would like to someday do myself.  For now I will settle for supporting someone who is helping to fight this battle.  Please donate, for everyone who has battled breast cancer, everyone who has a family member or friend who has battled breast cancer, and everyone who has lost someone to breast cancer. Every little bit helps!

For everyone who knows what my mom went through with her fight with breast cancer to everyone who knows what my Dad, sister, and I went through with her fight with breast cancer.  Please help with a donation so some day we can find a cure so no one else has to experience what we have.

Here is a link to her page if you would like to donate!

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/Chicago?px=6308471&pg=personal&fr_id=2171

Thanks so much!

Tara

Typical Winter Day

For those of you who wonder what a stay at home mom does with a 2 year old in the winter...here ya go!



"Read Car Book"




"Play with Maddy"



"Make a Mess



Play cars/trains

Learn to read

We are so excited for the weather to start warming up!  It is time for this little boy to play outside!

Tara



Chicken Lasagna

If you know me, then you know I don't like hamburger meat in anything!  With that being said, for the first 5 years of Kyle and I's marriage we did not eat spaghetti or lasagna.  One day I told Kyle I would make spaghetti if he wanted and I could just leave some sauce without meat for me.  To my surprise, he said he didn't need meat in his either!!  Now we hvae spaghetti ALL the time....what a cheap meal when you don't need meat in it!  And then I came across a recipe for Chicken Lasagna.  Chicken?  In Lasagna?  YUP!  It is so yummy! 

This is probably one of my new favorite dishes!  I even think it is fantastic leftover....and I DON'T eat leftovers (I get that from my mom!).

Try it!

Tara

Riley's 2nd Hockey Game

In February, Riley got to attend his second hockey game.  He seemes to like them...he even started to yell for them when they scored!  At this stadium they have a train that runs on the concourse, which made Riley super excited!  He ended up riding the train twice thanks to his generous Daddy!  I am sure many more hockey games are in his future!



Play-Doh

My Dad and Patty got Riley a big tub of Play-Doh and accessories for Christmas.  We finally had a chance to let Riley play with it for the first time!  I am not sure he is into actually "playing" with the Play-Doh, but he really enjoyed playing with the animals we cut out of the it.  Also, he is not at all into learning his colors, but we can get him into naming what color of dolphin he wants us to make next!  Kyle even rolled some doh into train tracks and he loved that!  Here are some pictures from our first Play-Doh experience!

ENJOY!

Tara

Valentine's Day!

So here it is....the scoop on Valentine's Day in this house.  We do not go out for a fancy dinner, we don't buy elaborate gifts, and Kyle may or may not buy me flowers (and either way is fine with me).  It isn't that we don't celebrate Valentine's Day, but we are not crazy over the top with it.  Don't get me wrong....my husband is amazing and spoils me!  He knows I like to get flowers, but he also knows that I love to get fowers for no reason.  I would rather him not get me flowers every Valentine's Day because then there are no surprises. 

Let's be honest....Valentine's Day for the guys is kind of lame.  I can't buy him flowers or jewlery.  But I do make him Red Velvet cake (or cupcakes)!  At least he has that to look forward too!  I do want Riley to know the importance of people you love and those who love you.  This year we mailed out some Valentine's that Riley "signed".  Here are some pictures of him "signing" his Valentine's.

I also wanted to try and be creative and make him a Valentine's Day t-shirt.  I know he is a boy, but I still thought he could wear a cute Valentine's shirt.  At least until he tells me he won't....or Kyle tells me he can't!  :)  Since I don't know how to sew and I didn't want to spend alot of money we decided to use a white shirt he already had.  In the craft section in Wal-Mart they have t-shirts for only $3.47!  And now I still have lots of extra to use for a future holiday!  I cut a small red heart out of the shirt and used double sided tape to keep the heart on for the day.  I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner and I can't wait for future holidays to think of a cute shirt to make for him!

Oh and when I say we don't go out for a fancy dinner, I mean it!!  But for us it is fitting since Wendy's was where Kyle and I had our first date!  :)

  

Anyways....until next year....Happy Valentine's Day!

Tara