Happy Birthday Isabella!

My baby is two! I can hardly believe it. She has grown up so fast! We had her birthday party over the weekend. She did so well! We had a Minnie Mouse theme. I even made the cake! She loved opening presents (who doesn't?) - but it does take her a while to get them all opened. Her big gift from Mommy and Daddy was her tricycle. Here are some pictures from the party and then from her actual birthday. She is showing that she is two. We gave her a scoop of ice cream with two candles to blow out.

She did it!

Isabella has been showing an interest in the potty. So for Christmas we bought her her own. I know, what I nice Christmas gift. But hey! She knew exactly what it was and was very excited! So we started this new routine that before we put her in the bath we sit her on the potty. Usually, she just plays, gets up and down - which totally freaks me out because I'm afraid she will pee on the floor! But last night she sat on the potty and came to me and said "All done!" She never says that. Since I was in the hall I was yelling, "Get back on the potty!" When I got there, I saw that she had peed in her potty. I was so excited! And yes, I missed it.

Weekly Menu

Ok, Tiff - this is for you.

Skip & I have been trying to eat at home more and try our hand at cooking. A co-worker at Cottage Lake - Janice - always raved about Taste of Home recipes - but said she tweeked them. Tiffany introduced us to the Taste of Home Healthy Cooking and we also saw the Simple & Delicious magazine too. Tiffany is posting her weekly menu and asked me to do the same and then letting you all know what we think of it. So far for us, we have only tried one chicken dish that we haven't been keen on. So here is the the menu for the week. Click on Walters Fun House to see her menu.

Monday - Chicken Cordon Blue Bake
So this was good. It made A LOT. (Actually we didn't read the recipe to see that you make two batches to freeze the second one for later oops!)But still we have plenty of left overs for lunch. I would use a little less stuffing next time though...

Tuesday - Mock Beef Stroganoff
Isabella couldn't get enought of this! She is definately a carbs girl... It was so easy to make too!

Thursday - Apple Glazed Pork Chops

Donuts

My new school is BIG on donuts. I have never been one for them. Don't get me wrong I love the sweet smell of them as I walk through the staff room. However, at this school, I seem to be eating A LOT of them. I get a big help from my friends, Erin and Andrea who love them and graciously bring them in atleast once a week.
Of course-I can't be rude and not eat it!

History in the Making

I didn't know what to expect. I really wanted my kids to see the inauguaration, but with the lack of technology in my school I didn't think it was possible. Then at the last second....literally I was told that we could recieve the signal. I quickly turned it on to hear the rest of President Obama's speech. When I turned it on, my kids cheered- then the room fell silent. My kids sat glued to the tv. They sat and listened. When the audience was asked to stand for the national anthem, they started to stand. Then a few started singing. I cried.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Say Cheese!

Isabella loves to take pictures. I guess this is what I get for always wanting to take her picture.