What We've Been Up To

Thanks for the encouraging comments on my I have no friends post...and for not making me feel like a total L7 weenie.  Anyway, here's a little snippet of what we've been up to lately:

The hubs and I celebrated 8 years of marriage by going out to dinner and seeing Oz in 3D.  I know a lot of people are good about dating their spouse...we are not those kinds of people.  So it was nice to get out and again reminds me that we need to do it more often.  (A lot of people said they hated the movie, but I really liked it.  Maybe that's because I don't get out much, but it was visually stunning and I was thoroughly entertained).

We have been blending like mad.  How did I only just start making smoothies for my kids?  My 2 year old is my picky eater when it comes to fruits and veggies so this has been perfect.  He drinks these things right up--and sometimes they have spinach in them.  HA!  Now I just need a fancy Blend Tec.  Our favorite recipe is to just dump in a bunch of stuff--usually about a cup of organic plain yogurt, a handful of strawberries, a banana or 2 and then top the blender off with either frozen raspberries or blueberries.  And now and then I add some spinach.  You can't even taste it.

My sweet sis in law doing my toes...because I can't reach.

34 weeks along (AAH!) and I swear I am DONE.  I feel like I am days away from delivering and yet I still have 6 weeks. How we women do this is beyond me.  It is just so uncomfortable.  The other day my maternity pants were curling and folding down off of my belly so much that I came home, ripped them off,  and started bawling because I just wanted to wear pants like a normal person.  I know...dramatic.  But I think it's safe to say it's yoga pants from here on out--so don't judge me if you see me. :)

We had a visit last month from my brother and his wife.  They were in town from Hawaii for a wedding, and it was sooo good to see them.  My brother had just gotten back a few months prior from his year long stint in Afghanistan.  It was a great week of family (and that means tons of games! Yes!) and fun.

We finally upgraded our entertainment center.  After going back and forth about whether to refinish, completely build new, or buy new we opted for the easiest option and bought new.  The TV cost us practically nothing (we had saved gifts cards for over a year), so we justified the purchase.  Also it is pretty massive and was exactly what we wanted so all in all, I am in love with it.  And the 60" TV makes the hubs happy. Here it is:

Love!

A pic of my munchkins just for fun.
Happy weekend!  And here's to the next month going by wicked fast.

Pinterest Test Kitchen Part 4: Dessert Edition

Here are some recipes I've pinned and tried lately...and if you are trying to be healthy right now stop reading. :)

Pretty immediately after I pinned this recipe for Mandy's Swig Sugar Cookies I made them for my monthly bunko group.  They were an absolute hit and I could not stop eating them.  They are TO DIE for.  So seriously, make these.  Like right now. And delete any other sugar cookie recipe you have pinned, you don't need it anymore. :)

Another one I tried pretty recently was the Eclair Cake from The Girl Who Ate Everything.  I would love to make eclairs but they just sound like too much work and this was a great substitute.  Delicious!

Bakerella is famous for her cake pops, but I made her Peach Crunch Cake (I call it dump cake) and it was so easy and delicious.  Two things I love.

I'm sure you've heard of The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake from Pioneer Woman.  Man I ate this stuff right out of the pan and did not feel guilty....probably should have.  But it was that good.  Made all the extra effort totally worth it.

Finally one I made months ago, but still remember how disappointed I was.  I love snickerdoodles, so I thought Pumpkin Snickerdoodles would be amazing.  But alas, they were not my favorite.  I found myself wishing the pumpkin was more intense, OR that they were just regular old snickerdoodles (I use Erin's recipe).

Photo from http://www.5minutesformom.com/

Hi, What's Your Name?

I feel like I start every blog post with "sorry I've been MIA".  But...it has been awhile.  And we've been working on a few home decor projects that I can't wait to share with you.  Unfortunately I don't have pics uploaded, so those will have to wait.  I just wanted to check in and say hi.

The only baby bump picture you will get from me. :)

I'm currently 31 weeks along in my pregnancy and counting down to baby #3.  It's a bit scary, but really I'm so excited to meet this little guy.  And get this pregnancy over with.  :)  Is it weird I just want to run? Like even just a block.  It sounds so good to me right now.  To move without waddling or wincing.
Today at the park I noticed my super shy daughter instantly making a new friend.  And it's got me thinking how funny it is that it happens every time when we go to the playground.  Kids instantly go up to each other and after quick introductions are playing like they've known each other for years.  I wish I could do that with the other moms.  "Hi what's your name?  Want to play? OK!"  But it's not quite like that.  Once you make that crossover into motherhood, or even adulthood for that matter, it's hard to make new friends.  Although I think it might just be me.  Like my daughter, I'm pretty shy (hmmm, wonder where she gets it from?).  Ever since we moved into our new house, and new area, I keep thinking that I really need to find a friend.  Motherhood can be lonely if you don't have some sort of network.  I need a good friend who's also a mom, and one that has kids the same age as mine, and one who likes to do the same things as me and has the same sense of humor.  That's not too much to ask is it?  I just feel so dumb trying to meet people.  I feel like she's too trendy, she's not in the same stage of life as me, her kids are much older, her kids are too young, does she even have kids, she won't like me, she already has 3 best friends and I wouldn't fit in, etc. etc.  Phew.  Every now and then I hang out with my high school friends or my sister in laws, and it is so easy.  Our kids get along and nothing in our friendship feels forced.  But that time with them makes me wish I had that closer to home (my HS friends and I are spread out about an hour apart).
Now I know this sounds really pathetic like I'm the wallflower in the corner with no friends.  And I guess I am. I'm finding comfort in the fact that no one really reads this blog...but I'm curious how people out there find that one friend they can call up any day of the week and say 'meet us at the park'.

I don't mean for this post to be a downer but it's just been weighing on my mind lately.  Glad I have this weekend to relax and recharge, despite the pouring rain.