Making Memories

I'm a really big fan of Rice Krispies Treats!!! My mom can attest to that. I remember one day, hearing about them. And making her go to the grocery store. For all the supplies. I think I was in elementary school. :)

We made them that afternoon. And ever since, it's been one of those treats, that I just love! Since I've been married, I've varied my Rice Krispies Treats. Added things to them, like candy, nuts, dried fruit,various marshmallows. Lots of things!! And they are just too darn good!

At one point, I wouldn't allow Rice Krispies, marshmallows, or anything to do with my favorite treats, in our home. At the time, I needed to lose 10 lbs. And it just wasn't happening, with these bad boys in the house!!

I think last year, was the first year, that I heard about these eggs. It might have been 2 years ago. I can't remember. But I saw the commercial on TV. I kept saying, I'm going to try those. Well, it never happened. :(



Last week, I saw that commercial again. And I got an idea. Over the weekend, I just knew, that we had to at least try these. I picked up the supplies on last Friday. While grocery shopping. Yum! I was so excited!! And last Saturday, after nap time, we went all out!

Two hours later, we had a nice stack of eggs. I'll be it, Mark and I, made 99% of them. But that's our job. :) Elena and Ofelia were so excited, with all their hard work!! It was such a fun project. One that I hope, becomes a tradition in our family. :)

And all those Rice Krispies eggs, were happily eaten!! Not all by us. Although, we did have our fair share. But I took them with us, to my parents' house Sunday. They had us all over, including my siblings and their families, for dinner. It was super yummy!!

I'm hoping, to make these one more time. For Easter. But with my due date so close to Easter, I'm just not sure. We'll have to play it by ear. Maybe instead, I should whip some up today, during nap time. For our weekly Family Dinner. :) A

We're Getting Old

I'm getting old. So is Mark. Just don't tell him! Why am I saying this? There was a time, when we'd have gone out. For New Year's. Spent the entire night, with family and friends. Dancing away. Celebrating the passing year. And the coming year.

Mark's brothers, with their wives, my siblings with their significant others, and a handful of friends. We'd go out. Find a good, and safe place to celebrate. Have the time of our lives! Dance until the sun came up. Then we'd all go out for breakfast.

If we were lucky, we'd head home for a 2 hour nap. Then to church. And a day full of family fun. Nowadays, we're homebodies. 100% On New Year's Eve, we had a little "dance party" with the girls. We've been doing this, since Elena's 1st New Year's. The girls stayed up later than usual. But we're still in bed, before 11pm.

Mark and I, stayed up to ring in the New Year. Low key. Yummy snacks, a good movie, then the "Ball Drop." I'm pretty sure, we were in bed, before 1am. Happy as can be! Us, and my big 'ol preggers belly. :)

Yesterday morning, was like pulling teeth! We almost didn't make it to church. Because we unexpectedly overslept. So did our daughters. You'd think, we partied all night! Both girls fell asleep in church. That never happens! We'll chalk it up, to all that dancing. :)

Then we went to my in-laws' house. If you haven't realized it by now, we spend a lot of time with them. I personally, love it! Mark's family is so close! And I think it's the perfect environment, for our daughters, to grow up in.

Since we woke up late, I didn't get my cooking done. But we had the groceries at home. Mark lugged them into his parents' house. Where I was going to do a little cooking. When my MIL told me to relax.

My SIL actually whipped up, my mashed potatoes, salad, and dessert. She is a sweetheart! While my BIL entertained the girls. Taking them on horse rides. While Mark, my other BIL, and FIL were working in the barn. I'm still not positive, what they were doing. But it was some "guy thing." That kept them, and all our nephews entertained!

Meanwhile, my MIL, SILs, and I spent the better part of the day, watching the Hallmark Channel. What else would you expect? We're addicted! I'm pretty sure, that I took a 2 hour nap. Sometime during our movie marathon. I just can't shake this exhaustion!



We eventually got it together. Later in the afternoon, many other family and friends came over. And we had the best dinner! My MIL is a genius in the kitchen. No lie! And we watched more Hallmark. As the guys caught up on their games.

Let me tell you, I'll take Hallmark, family, friends, and good food, over going out. Any day! This is the life! Even if, I seem to now, require 10 hours of sleep a day! And cry every 15 minutes, while watching Hallmark. Isn't that where the fun is? That and playing dolls with my girls! How was your New Year's? A

Elena is 3!!!!

Can someone please explain to me....why does life move so fast?? I swear to you, before we had kids, life didn't move this fast. Never!! Not once, did I feel, like life was in high gear. These days, I'm constantly stressed out. My babies are going to grow up, and fly the coop. I feel, like one day, I'm just going to wake up, and they're going to be adults. On their own. Do you understand that?

I shouldn't be quite so dramatic. I know. One day, my girls are going to grow up. Move out. Be on their own. With their own families. But to me, I'm still in shock. At how quickly things are moving. 4 years ago, Mark and I decided to have a baby. We'd been married, nearly 10 years. It was time. To make an addition, to our little family. :)

God blessed us. So much!! With the most perfect little girl. With all her daddy's curiosity. Her mommy's eyes. Daddy's dark hair. This little person, who loved us more, than anyone in the world. In return, we love her, more than anyone in the world!!

3 years ago, we became parents. We held our little baby girl, for the very first time. Soaked up the sweet and wonderful, newborn scent. Watched as she nuzzled into us. And fell deeply into love!! Elena, was the missing part of our family. That we never knew, was missing.



The last 3 years, has been completely filled with love!! Wonder. And precious moments. Moments that we would never take back. Moments, that in our old age, we will still be cherishing.

I absolutely cannot believe, how quickly time has flown by! How one day, we were shocked by hearing our baby's heartbeat. For the very first time. And next, Elena is reading to Ofelia. It's just so crazy, how life moves this fast!!

Saturday, we're having Elena's birthday party. But today, is all about, our favorite 3 year old!! Mark is busy making breakfast. And I'm sitting here. Staring at our very first family picture. Getting ready, to shower our big girl, with lots of birthday love!! There might even be, a trip to the Disney Store, in our very near future!! A