Weekend Wrap Up

What our weekend consisted of. . . 

And.... hanging at home in our jammies all day long and getting lots of rest!  All the sickies must be gone before the holidays approach this week :-)

TGIF!

What a week!  Just pure craziness!  When the sickies in this house, they hit hard :-(.  Poor Camryn has the flu.  I feel so horrible for her.  She is miserable.  I am hoping it passes soon so I can have my sweet Cami back!  We already started Payten on the preventative medicine that way hopefully she doesn't catch it.  Now my hubby and I have to hope we don't get it.. :-/

Since we'll be spending the weekend home hoping that the sickies go away we'll have lots of time on our hands, so looks like we'll start decorating for Christmas.  I hate to do it before Thanksgiving but since we have the time we mind as well get started.  It usually takes some time to finish everything.  My hubby and I are a bit obsessed with decorating for Christmas.  Stay tuned to pics... I am sure there will be a ton :-)

Happy Friday!!

30 Days of Thankfulness - Week 2

Day 8: I am so thankful to have amazing family!  I treasure all the fun times we’ve had together and always look forward to seeing each every one of you to make even more memories.  Thank you for always keeping in touch and being here no matter what.  I am so lucky to have such a supportive loving family! 

Day 9: Today I am so thankful for my amazing friends. Whether you are near or far, I couldn’t have asked for better friendships! Thank you for making me laugh when I needed a smile, or just sending a simple message to let me know your there. Each of you hold a very special place in my heart. ♥ you all!

Day 10:  I am so thankful that I get to be an auntie to TWO new little ones!  Thank you Tracy Pearson & Timothy Pearson, and Daniel Hogan & Gaby Hogan for making me an auntie again :-)  I can’t wait to meet them both!!! <3

Day 11: Today I am thankful for all of US military. You all sacrifice so much to defend our country. Especially thank you to my family members for serving our country, Tracy Pearson & Timmy James Pearson ! Happy Veterans Day! ♥

Day 12: I am so thankful that I get to work from home.  Although some days I wish I still went into an office, it sure is nice to work in my pj’s 99% of time.

Day 13: Today I am so thankful for my beautiful home.  I think about all the families affected by Sandy and how some no longer have their winter clothes or blankets, let alone their homes. I am so thankful that this morning when I woke up and was chilly, I was able to go turn up the heat. Such a basic simple thing to do, but how thankful we should be of it!!

Day 14: Today I am thankful for Chick-Fil-A Cherry coke..... for nights like last night these are a MUST!

Wordless Wednesday - 11.14

Then. . . 2011

Now. . . 2012

My Love's

Weekend Wrap Up

It was a busy but relaxing one too... does that even make sense?  We didn't have any set plans, kind of went with the flow but we did end up having lots of fun!

Friday after work/school, the girls, the hubby, and I headed to the Millenia Mall for Santa's arrival.  We even got to meet up with friends as well.  Santa's arrival was super cute!  The girls got the biggest kick of out it.  It was packed!  But totally worth it for the priceless smiles :-)

Saturday afternoon the Hinken kids came to spend the day.  I got a taste of what it would be like to have two sets of twins of the ages of 4 1/2 and 3.  Although it was a bit challenging at some points like lunchtime but overall is was pretty easy. I am sure since its not an everyday thing it went well... but we had a great day!!  The girls already asking when they can come back and play again :-)

Saturday night I did get to enjoy a girls night out.  Totally needed after the crazy week I had! 

Yesterday was a pretty low key day.  Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, took a walk to the park and even managed to squeeze in a nap!  Now that's what I call a perfect Sunday {wink wink}

Woot woot it's Friday!

This week has been dragging!  It felt like Friday would never get here.  But its finally here, woo hoo!  This is our first weekend with no big plans and I am pretty happy about that!  I like to just go with the flow but we usually don't get that option all that much.  Soccer is over so now we have our Saturday mornings back, well at least until the Spring when Camryn will be playing soccer then.

Tonight we are going to head over to the Millenia Mall and watch Santa fly in.  I have never been but I heard its a great time and the kids just love it!  Should be interesting since Camryn is a huge scaredy cat these days :-(.  Maybe she'll surprise us all.

It's been a pretty picture less week here since I had some issues with my memory card this weekend.  So its just been an iPhone pic week :-). 

I went shopping yesterday for a dress to wear to a Gala my hubby and I are going to in a few weeks.  I always dread looking for a dress.  Not my favorite thing to do AT ALL but it has to be done.  I found two I liked.  Sean absolutely HATED the sequence one.  I won't even tell you what he said I looked like... ahhh gotta love him.  So I am thinking I am going with the blue one, what do you think?

We are getting ready for our cruise that leaves in a few weeks.  I am super excited!  We soooo need this time away from "real" life to just relax and not have to worry about work and such.  I just hope the girls do well.  It will be there first!

We did get our family pictures back this week and I just LOVE them, like LOVE them all!  Jessica did an amazing job!!!  Truly captured such great moments!  I will be posting some here and there but going to save a few for our Christmas cards :-)  Which speaking of, I am having the hardest time picking.  I think its because the ones I always like are soo expensive.  I honestly can't see spending a lot of money on things that people will throw away after a few weeks, well unlike me that keep them every year and scrapbook them.  I love looking back at them every year.  I'll post next week of some of favs and hopefully you can help me pick :-)

Happy Friday!!!  Have a great weekend!!

30 Days of Thankfulness - Week 1

Day 1: I am so thankful for my beautiful girls, Payten Elisabeth and Camryn Brooke. Although there are days they drive me batty but I wouldn't change it for the world. They are my world and so lucky to be there Mommy ♥

Day 2: I am so thankful for my amazing selfless husband. He is the piece of the puzzle that holds this whole family together. He always knows how to make my bad days better ones. I am so grateful that I get to spend the rest of my life with him. Thank you Sean Hogan for always be that “one” person I can always go to and for loving me no matter what. ♥

Day 3: I am so thankful for my amazing parents, Janice Cifrodella Bachur & William Bachur. They are truly the best parents a girl could ever have. They have loved, supported, guided me, and showed me how to be the

parent I am today and I am so thankful for that. Thank you Mom & Dad for always being there for me, even through the times when my decisions weren’t always the right ones. I love you both so very much, more then you could ever know! ♥

 Day 4: I am so thankful for my little sister, Tracy Pearson. You are one of the most selfless, caring, loving, compassionate, smart, funny people I know. I always knew you had it in you to out do us all. I am so proud of the woman you are! Payten and Camryn adore you in every way possible. Thank you for always being there for me…. God truly knew I needed a sister like you!  

Day 5: I am so thankful for awesome in laws, Tim Hogan & Joan Hogan. Not everyone gets to marry into a family with great in laws. You raised 6 amazing men! I am so lucky I got one of them to spend the rest of my life with. I might not get to see you both often but think about you every day. Thank you for always being just a phone call away. Love you!

Day 6: I am so thankful for my awesome brother in laws. I never thought I would be lucky enough to marry a guy with 5 brothers. I look at each of you like my brothers not my brother in laws. Each one of you are special to me.

The way you all adore my girls truly melts my heart. Thank you for all for being so supportive of Sean and I, and always looking out for us. I do wish we got to see you all more often but the times we do get to see you we treasure them greatly!

To my newest brother in law, Timothy Pearson… I am so lucky to have you as my newest brother in law. Thank you for being my sisters rock and can’t wait to share great times together. You truly have made my sister a happy woman and for that I am ever so grateful.  

Day 7: I am so thankful for my awesome sister in laws, Gaby Hogan & Kate Ochowicz Hogan. Thank you both for just being you and for making Dan & Ryan so happy! I wish I got to see you both more often but I always treasure the times we do get to spend together! Can’t wait to see you both next month!! ♥

Recipe: Baked Ziti

1 package of uncooked ziti (16oz)
1 cup chopped onion (I usually a little less since I am not a huge onion fan)
1 pound of lean ground beef
3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (48 oz)
1 egg
1 container part skim ricotta cheese (15 oz)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, (8 oz)
1/4 cup snipped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Cook pasta according to package direction.  Drain.

2. Meanwhile chop onion.  Place onion, ground beef, garlic in skillet.  Cook and stir over medium heat until beef is no longer pink.  Remove from heat.  Drain.  Stir in sauce.

3. In small bowl beat egg.  Add ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, parsley, and black pepper.  Add 1/4 parmesan cheese to mixture.

4. To assemble casserole, place cooked ziti in baking dish.  Add 6 cups of the meat sauce and mix well with ziti.  Spread ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta.  Top with remaining meat sauce.  Bake 1 hour.  Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese.  Continue baking for 10 minutes or until bubbly.

**This recipe does make a pretty big portion so I usually cut it down a bit!  This is super yummy and a great comfort food for the cooler weather!