Great Wolf Lodge

As one of the girls Christmas presents, Claire Bear left a night at GWL on the tree . We had originally planned on last Sunday only to have to reschedule for yesterday. Harper of course developed a right ear infection, sinus infection AND strep on Saturday so we couldn't join the over night fun. Chris and HG arrived on Sunday and spent the evening swimming, eating pizza and one too many sweets. We were highly jealous as we washed sheets , lysoled once again and battled ants in two different places.  We seriously can not wait to sell this place and be ant free but that is a whole other story. 

Heading off with Olllie.

I don't think she was told no the entire time she was there. 

Everyone wears pajamas!

She loved the one on one Daddy attention.

Late night brownie with Daddy.

Harper was puke and fever free for well over 24 hours come Monday, had 3 days of Omnicef in her system and an urgent call to get into our ENT this week allowed us to join around lunch today. We were assured that we were no longer contagious from the strep, to plug her ears and that the chlorine would be great for her sinuses. Would you believe she was clear the entire time at GWL?!? Of course if you have been there then you know all sbout the strong chlorine. We were practically scratching our skin off by the time we were done and I lubed the girls up a time or two with Aveeno oatmeal lotion. Normally we only use certain stuff on the girls but the oatmeal added supposedly helps the itch right now. HG is itching currently like crazy and can't sleep because of it.

Such a fun place and it wasn't over crowded. We ate lots of junk, swam and sat in the luke warm hot tub. Once Harper found this, she never touched the pools again. She said they were too cold. Our girl does not like to be cold.

HG made friends with everyone she met which provided hours of entertainment while the husband worked. 

She LOVED this but being dairy, it caused for a lovely belly ache later. She was still gassy 6 hours later! 

The finished product was all hot pink. ALL hot pink . It has been washed twice since arriving home after 6 with hopes the colors are set and won't bleed. Thank goodness Harper was asleep during all these markers!

Harper and I left them doing all their quests. We participated in one or two but it is time consuming and  lots of up and down of floors. Plus, it was late and we had stuff that needed to be done before school in the morning. We headed  home, had everything but Ollie washed and our baths taken again by the time they arrived. 

We can't wait to visit again soon.

Hailey Grace's 1/2 Birthday celebration

I've said it a million times but I will say it again, I LOVE that HG's teachers celebrate 1/2 birthdays at school. So many kids have summer birthdays so this allows them to feel special amongst their friends at school. To top off celebrating their birthdays, they also get to be line leader and bring home Ollie. This is their class pet, a stuffed owl who everyone loves. 

Last year, we were lucky enough to have the same teachers and HG chose an Ariel 1/2  birthday celebration. When we found out the teachers were moving up to the oldest class, HG instantly began planning we 1/2 birthday and what she was going to do with Ollie. This year, she decided on a chocolate donut with pink sprinkles party followed by owl party favors. While the favors aren't too creative with my growing belly and every 7 minutes around the clock  BH's,  we added owls to most everything in the bag except the Sophia glitter tattoos and Doc McStuffins crayons. I'm sure the other two girls will love the glitter tattoos but 9 boys might be passing it on to their sisters.

Sadly, I wasn't able to participate in the 1/2 birthday celebration this year due to having doctor appointments each Thursday after drop off. Chocolate donuts with pink sprinkles were of course a hit with the kids and we brought  an extra dozen to share with the other teachers at school.  While HG ended up not having a nibble, we decided to bake a fudge chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing to make up for it. One day, she will love a donut and the next, she won't touch it. I think she was motion sick this morning and overly excited for school but thank you for no throw up. 

We had two extremely worn out girls today. They were up late last night, Harper was up at 5:15 with gas and we were out the door by 8. I had everything washed from school (blankets, bags, stuffed animals, clothes, lunch boxes, jackets) and hung back up by 4:30. Germs be gone, we want to stay well! :)

Harper must have really enjoyed the cake.

She rarely ever gets sweets, except for fresh fruit, at dinner or after dinner. Her belly doesn't tolerate it well having it later in the day.

I think I had to scrub every inch of the kitchen. Typically, I sweep and mop each night after dinner but tonight was a major chocolate stuck on everything kind of night.

We have big plans for Ollie and the girls this weekend, so excited for them. :)

Slow cooker freezer meals

If you follow us on IG, you saw the post about HG and I preparing tons of meals . As of today, it is up to 36 meals whether lunch or dinner, they are ready to go. Well, probably will be 35 by the end of the day because I a feeling like I've been hit by a truck again.  I love Sprouts and their healthy selections of meats. If you watch for their sales, it is a win-win situation and HG loves all their chicken sausage in the fresh market.  That teamed up with a over flowing buggy from Kroger allowed us to prepare for his arrival. The meals should last us a good while, thank goodness. I know we won't eat one daily with family in town, Taco Tuesday and I'm sure a much needed pizza night.  HG helped until she got bored or worked up and began coughing. I shooed her out of the kitchen quickly when that began allowing her to have Disney Jr time. Harper, she refused to nap but was so good the majority of the day. She was really into Blue's clues yesterday and screaming at the TV. It was a hoot. She knows the clues and wants Steve to see see, right next to him.

Meals for when Hudson arrives.  This is mainly for us to remember and note which ones worked well. We've tried all of these except for the Lasagna.

*2 Whole chickens ready for slow cooker.  Add mixed vegetables and serve with potatoes.
* 9X13 pan of Lasagna- serve with bread and steamed broccoli. Fully cooked
*9X13 pan of Baked Ziti- serve with bread and steamed broccoli. Fully cooked
*2 uncooked, seasoned meatloaves- serve with potatoes and green beans
*Apple chicken sausage- serve with beans and a green vegetable.
*1 16 Cajun bean soup with turkey sausage- serve with cornbread. Fully cooked.
*1 16 bean soup, non spicy with turkey sausage- serve with cornbread. Fully cooked.
*Beef stew ready for slow cooker- serve with cornbread.
*3 Kroger cheese pizzas.
*2 BBQ slower cooker chicken ready for slow cooker- serve with Bush's beans, a green vegetable and bread.
*Mississippi roast ready for slow cooker- serve with loaded mashed potatoes and broccoli.
*2 cheese ravioli with marinara- serve with bread
*1 Sweet Italian sausage spaghetti sauce- just cook pasta, serve with bread. Fully cooked.
*1 HUGE thing of extra lean spaghetti sauce- just cook pasta, serve with bread. Fully cooked.  2 meals for sure and probably a 'sloppy joe' lunch.
*2 Southwest chicken roll ups, one topped with cheese already.  Fully cooked. serve with black beans, spanish rice, chips and salsa.
* 1 bean and cheese burrito dish- HG's favorite. Serve with verde salsa and spanish rice.
*1 full cooked meatloaf- serve with mashed potatoes and green beans.
*1 fully cooked Italian roast- serve with the above items.
*2 rotel chicken spaghetti dishes- serve with broccoli and bread.
*3 fully cooked chili dishes- cornbread or fijito pies.
*2 pork carnitas ready for slow cooker- serve on tortillas with spanish rice and beans.
*2 pork shoulder roasts ready for slow cooker- vegetables in bag, just add red potatoes.
*tons of frozen vegetables
*cinnamon rolls, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, egg muffins, blueberry/berry/chocolate muffins, toaster strudels, bacon, eggs, etc.
*crescent rolls, biscuits, french bread.
*Tuesdays- Taco Tuesday
*Friday- Papa Murphy's

Cousin Laura gave this to Harper filled with Melissa and Dough stuff.
It is awesome and very kid friendly, she is the best.
Many people forget that kids can be rough on stuff, and thick plastic can be perfect.

I spy Brobee.

HG sleeping in this morning on her last morning before school begins again.
What a Christmas Holiday this year, praying next year will be better so we can come visit after Christmas.

Harper being silly.

HG gets to celebrate her 1/2 birthday at school on Thursday with a chocolate donut party.

I love that her teachers do this since she has a summer birthday and we are planning to move before July.

 

 

Happy 2014

We are not NYE people. Back before kids and really even before we were married, we ventured out a few times but everything is always so busy.  It always scares me to be out during peak Holiday traffic hours, so many people who have been drinking and driving out.  Now that we have been married nearly 8 years and almost 3 kids later, staying awake until midnight is a challenge for us me. So much safer in our opinion and hang over free the next morning heading to get chocolate donuts. 

 

I braved slow cooking corned beef with cabbage, bacon, onions and butter on New Year's Day. The husband slightly turned his nose up at the idea only to be pleasantly surprised. It turned out amazing! We do a ton of meats in the slow cooker and outside smoker but corned beef was never one. I lost count at 3rd helpings. Whew! Of course we couldn't forget the corn bread and fresh black eye peas and jalapeños. This is a dish we will be doing again soon.

Adorable fleece liners for baby Hudson's cloth diapers.

Harper loves clothes and layering as many as she can wear.
Creates for a load of clothes a day for sure.

I believe this is the only item left from Christmas besides some Holiday coloring books.

We are supposed to be at GWL on Sunday as part of our Christmas to the girls. Sadly, we had to postpone it and our doctor agreed Thursday that it wasn't a good idea. Thankfully, our decision that left a certain 5 year old heart broken was reinforced by her Pedi. Unfortunately we hate going during Spring break, any Holiday or summer months so our days are limited as to when we take them.

 

We were back at the doctor on Thursday since the girls still aren't well.  Amazing that they can leave the house once since school was let out and have had so much trouble.  HG indeed was on day 3 of croup, luckily we had already started the steroids and breathing treatments.  Harper was still terribly congested but besides admitting her for oxygen and around the clock nurse care, there isn't much more we can do that we aren't already doing.  The hospital is far too full of germs.  We are constantly telling her to cough, blow her nose and keeping her upright as much possible. She is on her antibiotics, two allergy meds, once a day steroid (down from twice daily), every 4 hours she gets a breathing treatment, added a decongestant, vitamins, and probiotics. Whew, I think that is it.  Praying by Sunday, we are all better and the husband doesn't catch everything as we all get over it.  As for myself, I am recovered from my mild case of the flu but still on Tamiflu, my sinus infection and strep are slowly tapering away I can't breathe at all today thanks to my Z Pack, Zytrec and sudafed they have me on, Lovenox (blood thinners) are still doing their job wonderfully, but the Progesterone and ProCardia both suck and still having contractions hourly that sometimes hurt like the dickens. ha. I was on both with both girls so very aware of their side effects.  We will have to go in for a shot to stop my contractions if we can't get them under control for another week, I don't want him coming before then.  Another familiar thing. But, it always could be worse and I am incredibly thankful we are on the mend, baby Hudson measured 36w3d today (I am 34 weeks), there is modern day medicine to help clear up crazy annoying infections, my husband cooked cinnamon rolls for the girls this morning while I was at the doctor and that I don't pee myself every time I cough. :)

Harper making muffins that she believes are cupcakes.
Anything in a muffin tin is a cupcake in her opinion.
HG making chocolate fudge which turned out to be a bust.
Fudge is one of the easiest things to make and it didn't turn out for us.
It was the first time we have ever had issues with fudge.

We bought this stroller but in a jogging version a while back from one of our close friends.
It was only a couple of years ago, I can't remember if Harper was here or almost here.
After we bought it, we just couldn't figure it out.
The thing sat in storage until recently and finally the husband took a stab at it.
After flip flopping a couple of things, it is amazing.
A perfect jogging, neighborhood, park, fair, etc stroller.
Believe it or not, it is still brand new, they did not use it.
We let it sit in storage like many other things and super excited to use it once the girls are well.
The only down fall is that the sucker is heavy, maybe around 35 pounds but goes up to 98 pounds.

Harper is my summer baby born in the fall.
She would be naked with a beanie on 24/7 if we would allow it.
She swims in the bath tub daily with plain water, on top of her nightly bath time.
She likes it really warm, can't stand cold water to touch her belly.

Licking the bowl while HG tries to sneak a bite.
I think this is the only time they have shared anything lately.
I don't let them drink or eat after each other when they are so full of germs.

Camping out on the landing.

Cooking her pancakes, cereal and beet berry smoothie.

 

 

We have a busy day planned tomorrow, indoors still and away from people still.

HG and I are hoping to finish some of our meals for when baby Hudson arrives.

The husband asked me the other day how many I had done and I said only five.

We must get busy but luckily a lot of the stuff is easy to stick in double freezer ziplock and you thaw 24 hours before slow cooker time.