Friday Letters & Baked Ziti with Sausage & Spinach

Dear weekend, It's going to be a busy, but fun one.  I have a get together tonight, Max has a birthday party tomorrow, we're going out to celebrate our anniversary Saturday night and it's our volunteer night at church Sunday.  Dear House, I think you got the point by our busy schedule that you should just clean yourself.  Thanks, much appreciated.  Dear 4th of July, yay for Family coming into town Wednesday night.  We are excited to see Chris, Marla, James, Shell, Maddie and Hadley!  We are also excited Michelle and Hadley are staying for almost 2 weeks! Dear Max, I am glad you are finally feeling like your self this week. You are just such a doll.  You really are understanding everything we say to you. You've even been plugging your nose when you are about to go poo poo in your diaper.  Gigi always says "pooopy stinky" when she changes your dirty diaper, so now you associate it with your poopy and you tell us right before (sometimes after) that you've gone.

I wanted to post this recipe for Baked Ziti with Sausage and Spinach because it is SO YUMMY.  I love most everything that has pasta in it, especially when you mix a little red (tomatoes) and green (spinach/kale). It feels healthy and just tastes so good! This recipe comes from Recipe Shoebox.

The ingredients:
3 cups uncooked ziti or penne pasta (about 10-oz) We used whole grain.
2 Tbs. olive oil
3/4 lb. spicy Italian sausage, sliced (we used chicken sausage)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (14.5-oz each) diced tomatos
1/4 cup pesto   
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 cups fresh spinach, chopped (about 8-oz)
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions:
Cook pasta as directed on package.  Drain and set aside.  Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Saute onion and garlic just until soft  (about 5 minutes).  Add sausage slices and cook until browned (about 5 minutes).  Add tomatoes with juices to pan. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.  Stir in pesto.  Add salt and pepper.  Lightly oil 9x13-inch baking dish.  Combine cooked pasta, chopped spinach, mozzarella cheese, and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Pour into baking dish.

 Pour pasta sauce over top and stir together.  Sprinkle remaining 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese over the top.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.
 

4 Years In!

I tried to go back on facebook to get some old photos, but the farthest mine go back are from 2006.  Didn't we use facebook in college? I guess that's for the best.  I was trying to find a digital picture from when David and I first started dating.  I have some printed at home, but these will have to do.  Today is our 4 year wedding anniversary!  We've been dating for 10 years this coming summer/fall.

 

 We've had so many great memories together.

 Here are a few from our Honeymoon in Mexico.  We went down into the cenotes.

 And in a submarine!

All those memories were fun, but it doesn't compare to our little family now! Love my boys. 

Happy Anniversary David! I love you. Cheers to us- The Super Couple!

Fun at the Mall with Max

Last night Mom and I decided to head to the mall to grab some dinner since I ran late and didn't have a chance to put the crock pot meal together that morning.  Mom had taken Max on the merry-go-round once before but I was excited to get to go with him this time.

 

As soon as we went near the carousel Max was so excited and kept pointing and making noises.  I told him we were going to eat first and then go.  I have to tell you, I had so much fun watching him ride the horsey.  He was going "ooooohhhh" when the horse went up and down.  He would watch and wave at Gigi and it was so fun.  He got his little hand stamped after with a horse to top it all off.  Best $2 spent ever!

 

Max loves to people watch and eat his dinner.  He had some chickfila grilled chicken, fruit and a few fries. He is finally almost back to himself in the eating department, thank goodness!

Gigi purchased him some crocs to wear this summer.  His current sandals are tearing up his feet, making his little feeties smell and he plays with water so much they aren't practical.  He is wearing their 4/5 size although they are little big, we found the ones he has that are 5's but the back strap was tighter so it fits great.  His other pair are green (buy one, get one 50% off) and they turn color in the sun!

So glad my buddy is feeling better.  He is so excited for Uncle Chris, Auntie Marla, Uncle James, Auntie Michelle and cousin Hadley to come visit next week!

On another quick note- Big Brother starts tonight on CBS! I can't wait! 

Weekend Fun

Here's a run down of this weekends events.  We took Max to the urgent care pediatrics place Saturday morning because he was just screaming and cranky when he was awake and he was up a lot of Friday night.  They said he was just on the tail end of the sickness and we still could give tylenol/motrin.  I stopped giving it to him a few days after the fever went away, but he still has sores on his feet/mouth so that might have been some of the issue.  She said he wasn't dehydrated or anything (he wasn't eating or drinking much of anything).  He was down 1 pound from a few weeks ago so that's not good. 

 

We hosted a BBQ for Erin's (2nd from left) birthday on Saturday evening and luckily Max was very excited other kids came to play and he was happy boy playing all around.  I realize I should have put on my tall shoes as I am very short.

 

 Erin was so thoughtful and brought me this awesome thirty one insulated cooler bag for hosting!  I LOVE the colors and can't wait to bring it to the pool/beach/everywhere this summer. I  am going to try to embroider it also!

 

We bought this backpack carrier from Matt and Kerry to use with Max on hikes (not that we are avid hikers), but we wanted it for trips and what not.  It's a Kelty stroller/backpack.  We don't have it set up right in this photo but we just wanted to try it out.  Max was a crabby patty and was unsure about it.  It's very cool though.

On Sunday we wanted to get out of the house for a bit because Max was still a crabby boy and liked being in the car so we headed off to run some errands.  He needs a hair cut pretty bad.

We had to go to Discover Mills Mall so we stopped at the Bass Pro Shop to look at the fishes.  Max really liked it and was really into it.

 

The fish were right where Max was and looking like they were going to eat him. 

 

Max goes into the office to color a lot lately since his table and chairs are in there.  It's also where Molly hangs out and watches out the window.  Max decided she made a good seat and parked himself next/on to her. 

 

He also decided she was an exercise ball and was doing his stretches.  Molly isn't phased. 

Hugs for Molly.  BFF. So cute. Love my babies.  Hope you all had a great weekend.  Max is more himself today and was eating up a storm.

Double Trouble Embroidery & Gifts

I am loving creating fun shirts for Hadley and Max and we've decided to open a facebook page to friends and family who might be interested in ordering something. We named the company Double Trouble Embroidery and Gifts after my twin sister and myself.  We love anything monogrammed/embroidered so we'd appreciate if you liked our page.  This is the easiest way for us to show you what we've created and for you to see fabric choices and designs.  We are going to be having a giveaway in July so be sure to like the page for upcoming details!  I have a few projects I am working on, but will be trying out towels and other items for the home and adults soon!  Here are a few of our latest embroidery projects. 

 Michelle had mentioned doing something for Father's day for James (he's an Airforce pilot) and I got to work finding an airplane.  I love how this shirt came out.

 

Isn't Hadley the most darling little thing you've ever seen wearing it?!

 Next up was David's shirt for Mr. Max for Father's Day. 

Poor little guy wasn't feeling well when I snapped this photo, but he was so cute I had to!

My friend Tatiana contacted me to make a shirt for her son to wear for her husband on Father's day.  He is a police officer so we came up with this idea for a sheriff badge.  It is adorable and came out fantastic!  I can't wait to see a photo of Eiden wearing it!

Fathers Day Breakfast

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my older brother (yup, went there)!!!!! Can't wait to see ya in a few weeks. Max is ready to help blow out your birthday candles (well spit is more like it).

On Father's Day we made David a meal complete with blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs and toast.  Although it looks like David is making it, he was just helping Max flip the pancakes.

Max helped wrap David's gifts and was eager to help him open them.

He first opened his Just Like Dad T-shirt for Max to wear for the day and a jar full of Reeces Pieces that had a tag that said Daddy We love you to Pieces (thanks Pinterest).

The best part was the homemade drawing Max colored on for David.  Thanks to Mom for supervising!

As Max was trying to eat the chocolates David opened up his brand new knife set!  They are stainless steel and very sharp!  I'm sure he would have loved a band saw instead (but we've been talking about getting new knives forever).

Max was not feeling well as you can tell so we had a relaxed day and David went to his family party at the pool.

Weekend in iPhone pics

Well my poor little buddy was not feeling well yesterday so I didn't get a chance to upload any pictures.  Let's look at the weekend Iphone picture style.

 

Saturday morning we took Max to visit Matt, Kerry and the kids at their camp site.  They were camping for the weekend in Fort Yargo.  Max has moved down to 1 nap a day after lunch, but he just couldn't hang and was sleeping by 9:30 in the car mouth open and ball in hand. 

Max had fun hanging with Thomas and Morgan throwing the ball around and eating all their gold fish.  He liked sharing a chair with Morgan.

 

Max loved being outside with nature and seeing what trouble he could get into. 

It was a really nice shaded campsite with lots of fun things for the kids to do.

 

People were kayaking and fishing all around (just not in the photo I guess). 

 

David of course made a make shift leash out of his belt to hold and keep Max close.  Don't judge until you take Max for the day.  We had lunch there and then headed back.  I like the camping scene, just not the bugs, dirt and sleeping arrangements. 

We purchased dahlia plants at the nursery on mothers day weekend and one of them had a flower bud for the longest time.  It finally decided to bloom and bloom it did. Boy, this is such a pretty flower that keeps opening larger each day.  We are waiting for the plant next to it to get more, the leaves are just so luscious.

 

We have really pretty hydrangea plants on the hill of the back yard that are the bluest of blue.  We love looking at them. And yes, those are monkey bars. David is collecting playground equipment from numerous people in the neighborhood whose kids are too big for them. I think he thinks Max is 7 years old. 

We had water play Saturday afternoon on the deck.

 

Max loves to get wet, he wastes no time at all!

We have a hose spicket on the top deck so David brought another hose  up so it will be easier to fill the water table and water plants.  Max was ready for it to turn on, but we knew better.

 

Sunday morning Max woke up with a temperature of 99 and climbing.  He was pretty pitiful as he gets with a fever.  He was not into the father's day picture I was trying to take. 

 

He was getting flushed so we gave him tylenol and it kept the fever down in the 99-100 range till the evening when the tylenol wasn't doing anything (same thing happened last fever and I should have known).  I had to wait till 9 to give him the motrin and kept him up watching a few movies with us.  He wasn't having it and kept whining.  He wouldn't let anyone touch or even look at him but me.  He did love his fruit popsicles though.  His cousin Kinsley was getting a fever Thursday afternoon when she woke from her nap at our house and the next day she broke out into a rash on her bottom and everywhere.  They had a lot of tests done and basically concluded that it was hand, foot and mouth disease.

The weird thing about the virus is that you go 3-6 days without any symptoms.  She was on vaca the week before and was fine all week with us until Thursday so it just came out of no where. It's passed through coughing, sneezing (sharing drinks and putting their mouths on everything I'm sure).  His fever went down very soon after the Motrin and I put him to bed.  He was whining on and off a lot of the night but he never got up.  This morning his temperature was 99.6ish so we gave him another round of meds as he was very clingy and whiny.  He is doing much better now playing all around.  No rash has appeared so we will see!  Hope everyone had a great Father's day weekend.  Fevers in little kids are scary when you can't get them to go down!  *Update* The rash has started on his feet (hence hand, foot and mouth virus). He's itching so going to see what cream to put on.