Logan the Little Baker

I love to bake!  Logan is really liking to help out in the kitchen, so we decided to bake cookies a while back.  I asked Logan what kind of cookies he wanted and he replied "hot dog cookies".  He's obsessed with hot dogs...  I decided chocolate chip cookies sounded better.  I remember baking chocolate chip cookies with my Mom growing up and it was so fun!
Logan and I had a blast with the cookies.

Logan was really good at dumping the chocolate chips in (and eating them)

Cookie hands!

Logan showing off his handiwork.

The finished product.  Yummy!

Logan was sure to do a taste test for me.

We also whipped up some homemade ice cream sandwiches.  These little things are delicious and very kid friendly to make.  You can find the recipe here.

Logan giving our baking a thumbs up!

Stirring, stirring, stirring.

These are so good.  I think I ate most of them...



Older and Hotter!

And I am not talking about my good looks!
Last week was my birthday week! At this point, I can almost say I look half of my age! I'm now 32 years old and I still get carded for R rated movies sometimes!! I had a busy birthday week planned.  We had some 4th of  July fun at my parent's house.  On my actual birthday, we got to sleep in.  Then Jeff and I headed back home and I was super excited to stop at Imo's Pizza for lunch.  I LOVE Imo's and we can't get it anywhere near our house, so I usually try to hit it up when we are back in Missouri.  If you haven't tried Imo's, you should.  It is delicious! 
After our yummy lunch, we headed back to our house and lazed around for a bit (something we hardly ever get to do!).  We ended up just doing Chili's for my birthday dinner, but it was really good and I had their Oreo Molten Lava Cake.  OMG-Yum!
The next day, we were headed to STL once again for another 100 degree baseball game!  Crazy, right?!?  We were unable to attend the game earlier in the season when they gave away the World Series replica rings, so when they announced another promo date for these rings, we immediately bought tickets.  We decided to go all out and buy tickets at one of the all inclusive areas where our food and drink was included in the ticket price.  This was a first for us.
We also splurged and got a hotel downtown for the night so we wouldn't have to drive home after the game.  Let me tell you, that was the way to do it!  It was so nice to be back at our hotel room after the game and not have to drive home that night. 
The game was so hot again!  I'm pretty sure I could have wrung the sweat out of my clothes!  The cards unfortunately lost the game, but we are now the proud owners of the St. Louis Cardinals World Series replica ring.  This ring is a really nice replica!

Maybe I'll just replace my wedding ring...I'm sure Jeff won't mind!  haha!

The yummy food!

Our view of the field

The food was really good.  I ate myself so full I couldn't even lie on my stomach to sleep that night!  Haha!  I probably would have eaten even more if it hadn't been so dad gum hot!
It was fun, but I sure was glad to see Logan on Saturday.  I missed that little guy, but he had tons of fun at my Mom and Dad's while we were away!

Opening Day-Budget Friendly Style

Last year we went to the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day.  After the World Series win in 2011, we had every intention to go to Opening Day again this year.  Our budget felt otherwise...we anticipated that tickets would be a bit more expensive this year because of the World Series win, but we figured since we were only having to buy 2 tickets this year (we took my Mom and Dad last year with us), it should be about the same cost.  After trying to get tickets through the MLB website and failing (even during the presale...), we went to Stub Hub and found that tickets were anywhere from $150 or more per ticket for top of the stadium and standing room only tickets!  After several weeks of deliberation, we decided to stay at home for Opening Day. 
I think we made a good decision!  Now, I love baseball, but I do not love rain.  It rained on Opening Day.  God Bless those fans that sat through the hours of rain before the game begin.  I was sure happy to be in the comforts of my own home. 
We did splurge on some St. Louis Cardinals decoration and party supplies to celebrate!

St. Louis Cardinal straws!

Logan was a huge fan of the straws

Our party favorites!

Logan attempting to keep us entertained during the rain delay!

Our excellent view of the Opening Day Parade!

My new St. Louis Cardinals wreath!  (Yes, I made it!  Here's my inspiration.)

One note on the wreath, do not use silky ribbon.  The hot glue will not hold...my balls keep falling off...the wreath is currently in repair state using fabric glue instead of hot glue.  Heehee!

A Hunting We Will Go

Easter Egg hunts are one thing that I have never experienced with Logan.  He's been on Easter Egg hunts, just not with me.  I always work weekends and that is usually when Easter Egg hunts are held.  This year, we lucked out!  A wonderful Mom in our play group opened her house to about forty kiddos for an Easter Egg hunt on Good Friday!  It was so much fun for Logan and for me (and my Mom, she got to go too!).  Logan is apparently a master Easter Egg hunter and met his egg quota quickly, but he was happy because after the Easter Egg hunt, it was snack time!!

Logan finds his first egg!

He was quick to swipe those eggs up!

"I see another one back there!"

Man on the move

Logan was not afraid to hunt through snake territory (at least that is what I call grass by trees because I'm crazy scared of snakes, my poor heart pitter patters to just walk across my yard) to find another egg

Disaster avoided.  He got the egg and no snakes!  (I'm really just kidding about the snakes.  I'm sure there weren't any snakes-at least I hope... Haha!)

Logan eyeing Addy's eggs...

My donut Easter Nests!  They were supposed to be Easter baskets, but I could not find red licorice lace anywhere!!  Here's how to make these awesome snacks!

Logan thoroughly enjoyed snack time and will most likely have a blue mouth and hands for at least the next 24 hours or so.

Just loved this photo.  He's such a cutie!

Thanks so much to the Mom who planned this Easter Egg hunt!  You are awesome and we had a wonderful time!
Logan spent Easter weekend with Grandma and Pappy since Jeff and I both work (boo!) and he has two more Easter Egg hunts under his belt this year.  He had a blast spending time with Lillie and Baby Jacklyn!

Give Thanks!

I know.  I know.  Thanksgiving was last week.  I figure that I give thanks every day I wake up, so who cares if my Thanksgiving post is a little late for the holiday.  Once again, I tried to be crafty with Logan and we did a baking craft.  Turkey cookies to share with everyone at our Thanksgiving meal!  I found these cute cookies on Pinterest (my new favorite website-check it out if you haven't yet!) and they looked toddler friendly, so we gave it a go! 

It called for the refrigerated sugar cookie dough, so I sliced it off and baked the cookies.  I apparently put too many on the cookie sheet because my cookies all smooshed together and ended up being anything but round...Oh well, turkeys aren't perfectly round either!

After they cooled off, the fun part started!  Logan loved this cookie decorating a lot.  He did enjoy eating the supplies too...kind of like his Mommy!  Jeff helped out too, but he didn't make any of the photos since he was the official photographer for our cookie decorating fun!

Logan and I prepare for the fun! (And yes Mom, I do still have that shirt nearly 20 years later!)

Putting the chocolate icing on the cookie.

"Here, Mom.  You need some feathers too!"

"This is so fun!!"

Our first finished turkey.  Notice the turkey has an extra eye...I couldn't figure out why...but Logan insisted.

I finally figured out that he was putting shoes on the turkeys!! Haha!

Logan taste tests the cookie and give it a thumbs up!

The finished cookie (minus shoes...)

I have a million things to be thankful for, but one of the best is getting to spend 2 days with our families!  I only wish we could have had everyone here.  I come from a very small family, so we are very close and often spend holidays together as an entire family.  My mom's side of the family does not live nearby but I'm betting they had a great Thanksgiving as they took a trip to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade!!  I'm very jealous.

This year, we spent Wednesday with my Dad's side of the family (minus one of my cousins and her family).  We did make a quick stop to visit with our friends Jessica, John, and Chase.  Logan and Chase had a really fun time playing together (well, except for fighting over the push toy...) 

We went to my Aunt and Uncle's house then to hang with my family.  Logan got to hang out with some of his cousins and they all played really well together!  The best part was getting to meet our new baby cousin Scarlett!  She's the cutest little thing.  (I'm pretty sure cuteness runs in the family.)  This was our first holiday without Mama, but I know she was there with us!

Logan, Lillie, Aidan, and Collin

This might be my favorite picture of the day!  Dad was trying to get a picture of he and Mom with Logan and Lillie...guess who he's looking at?!?

Here's the family! (Minus Angie, Tom, Andrew, and Alyse)

 On Thursday, we spent Thanksgiving with Jeff's family.  We are thankful to spend another holiday with his Grandma, Jenny.  She is 92 years old!  She loves Logan to death and will do anything he tells her to do!

Logan gave her this tree to hold and she wouldn't let it go!

Jeff's family (it was just his immediate family this year.)

Jeff, Logan, and I are so fortunate to have wonderful families that actually enjoy spending time together at the holidays (or otherwise!).  We ate good food, had good conversation, and are exhausted now.

I strictly adhere to Christmas festivities (decorating, music, wrapping presents, etc.) not starting until after Thanksgiving.  I enjoy Thanksgiving and think Christmas tends to overshadow this wonderful holiday.  With Thanksgiving over, I am moving into the Christmas spirit and thinking about decorating...if my house ever gets clean...where are those elves? Hmmmmmm...

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!  (a few weeks late...I'm playing blog catchup here!)  You may remember our Halloween Party a few weeks back.  Logan refused to wear his Lion costume, so I was not especially hopeful Halloween night would be any better!  We travelled to Missouri (minus Jeff who stayed back and handed out candy at our house since he had to work the next day) to see my family and trick or treat with them.  We decided to start our evening at a local town's downtown trick or treat time.  I put Logan in his costume(with all his clothes underneath so he wouldn't get arrested for streaking if he took it off again...)

Logan modeling on the front of my Mom's new Jeep!

Getting candy at the local Rehab department!

My niece Lillie, the pig!  Isn't she so cute!!! That's my sister in law Laura with her.

Logan chased Lillie around roaring at her all night.  Notice he is still in his costume and even has the hood on!!  He loved his costume this time around!

Posing with Mommy in front of the fire truck

 Logan had a blast.  He was even saying "Trick Treat" and holding his basket out for candy!  After having a blast at the town trick or treat event, we headed to Imo's Pizza for dinner.  I LOVE Imo's and there is not one anywhere near where we live.  It is truly the best pizza ever, but it's so thin and cheesy, you can hardly compare it to any other pizza.  If you have one near you and haven't had it, GO TODAY!

Our real Trick or Treat destination was our friend Joyce's house.  Joyce has the coolest Halloween tradition!  She makes donuts for everyone.  I am not a donut fan (unless it's Krispy Kreme) but she makes the BEST donuts ever!  I remember getting donuts at her house as a kid, so this was a must for Logan's first Halloween two years ago.  He's was only 5 months old, so he didn't get to eat the donut that time, but he did get a taste of the glaze!  This time he devoured a whole donut!

While we were there, these dinosaurs showed up!  Logan loved them.  The mother (in the blue scarf) had made the costumes.  How crafty!  You may notice Logan's odd Halloween basket too...I forgot his Halloween bag at home and this was the best we could find at Grandma and Pappy's house.

My brother John (he as tall as I am short...), Lillie, Joyce, me, and Logan

"Trick Treat"

"Cheese"

Eating donuts

 We also made a stop at another friend's house for candy and too see Uncle Bill and Edna!  Logan wore his costume the whole night and did not want to take it off until he got home!  Logan and Lillie were so much fun to trick or treat with this year since they kind of got the point of it and such. 

The cutest Lion I've ever seen!