October 2012 ~ These Four No More

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Christmas Lists 2012

1:21 PM 8 comments

I'm 95% done shopping for the kids for their Christmas - I'm so stoked. I usually wait until the end of November to shop (online, because I'm not insane enough for crowds, yo). I've been squirrling away toys for the past month and a half - looking for deals at Target, Amazon, and Toys R Us. We try to spend roughly $100 a kid for Christmas, including stocking stuffers. It's hard to not go overboard, but with as many grandparents as they have, we'd end up with more toys than we could fit in our house! Here's a breakdown of what the kids will get:

Corbin - Construction Helmet, Melissa & Doug Construction Wooden Chunky Puzzle, Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque Get Out 'N Grill, Fisher-Price Little People Animal Sounds Farm, John Deere - Animal Sounds Hay Ride, Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque Backyard Picnic, Fisher-Price Little People DC Super Friends Play 'n Go Batcave, Melissa & Doug Tools Wooden Chunky Puzzle, and Little Tikes Little Handiworker Workhorse. The puzzles I bought in store using 40% off coupons (Hobby Lobby carries them). The Little Tikes Grill & Workhorse I got an amazing deal at TRU with - I bought the grill for $36.99 and received the workhorse for free. The Little People Batman set was on clearance for 50% off at Target last month. Everything else I found cheaper on Amazon with free Prime shipping.

Natalie - LeapFrog Explorer Learning Game: Disney Tangled, Cowgirl Boots, Capezio Ballet Shoes, Disney Princess Sparkle Shoe - Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas Plush Doll, Sleeping Beauty Dress, Hello Kitty Watch (Target clearance). The LeapFrog games were buy one, get one 50% off at Target last week.

Audrey - Minnie Mouse 12" Pook a Looz Plush Doll, LeapFrog Explorer Learning Game: Pet Pals 2, Mulan Plush Doll, Rapunzel Shoes (TRU), Rapunzel Dress, Dora Watch (Walmart), and Cowgirl Boots.

Emma - Calico Critters Yellow Lab Twins, Merida Costume, Tom & Jerry Action Figure (TRU), Cowgirl Boots, Furby, Teal, Merida Plush, Belle Shoes (TRU), Princess Watch (WalMart), Calico Critters Cozy Cottage Starter Set

Joint Gifts - Badger Basket Triple Doll Bunk Bed, AquaDoodle, Loving Family MiniVan (WalMart), Play-Doh playset (WalMart).

Enchanted Tracks

9:13 AM 5 comments

Saturday evening, we headed to the Pavilion for Enchanted Tracks - a family fun event that includes a train ride, bouncy houses, games, and a walk through the enchanted forest to meet fairy tale characters. The weather outside was perfect, and the kids had an absolute blast. They even entered into a costume contest! I think Corbin was the cutest little dragon I've even seen, even if he did give us death glares when he wore his hat.

Crockpot TexMex Turkey Chili

1:39 PM No comments

There's nothing I love more than a good fall chili. I was getting tired of the regular beef and bean chili, so I decided to change things up a bit. I ended up with a delicious new chili favorite!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey (the leaner the better - you could also use venison!)
2 small white onions, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce (or use a regular sized if you want thinner chili)
1 can chopped green chilies
1 can red kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can white beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn (I used sweet white)
2 tbsp hot chili powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 chopped jalapeno pepper (optional for those who love heat)

Directions:

Brown the turkey in a skillet over medium heat, making sure to chop it into small pieces.
Drain any liquid, and add chopped onions and garlic. Stir around for a few minutes, then add the pepper, cumin and salt.
Dump the turkey, onions, and garlic into your crock pot (make sure you sprayed it down, or use a liner). Add the remaining ingredients to the pot.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 4.
Serve with sour cream, cheese, or chives for extra flavor.
Remember, chili is a great freezer recipe! Double the batch and store some for another meal.

5 Years of Halloween

10:27 PM 12 comments

The girls were not even a month old on their first Halloween. I dressed Audrey as a ladybug, and Natalie as a pumpkin. Their little newborn outfits swam on them.

Their second Halloween, I thought they'd look super adorable as little lambs. Yeah, these costumes lasted all of 10 minutes! It's way too hot in SC for something like this.

At 2, they dressed up as Alice in Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts. It was also their first time going Trick or Treating.

Last year, they were both going to be ladybugs - until Audrey declared that she would NOT be putting on her costume, and wore a tutu instead.

This year? All three girls are going as witches, and Corbin is going to be a dragon. We can't wait for the Fall Festival this weekend, and Trick or Treating next week.

What are your kids dressing up as??

Planning a 1st Birthday Party

11:21 AM 8 comments

I'm in the middle of planning Corbin's first birthday party. I can't believe my last little baby will be 1 - and a toddler soon (because y'all, I'm pretty sure he'll be walking by then). I'm just stuck on what to do for his special day. The twins are lucky enough to have a birthday that's in the early fall in SC. Which means it could be 85 outside, or a bit cooler in the upper 60s. But Corbin, his birthday is in late November. There's no way I can plan a birthday party for him outside, like I did for the girls' first birthday. He's way too young to do any of the fun places around here (Little Gym, Gymboree, Gatti Town, etc), and I have no friends that have babies his age for him to "play" with, anyway. So it's really going to be just family. I'm almost ready to just host it at our house, but it's small, and we'd have 4 little girls, and about 12 adults. Do you guys have any good suggestions? We want simple - cake and finger type foods (or pizza).

Wordless Wednesday

8:00 AM 4 comments

It's Fall, Y'all

10:43 AM 2 comments

Every year, I have a long list of things that I want to do with our family. I decided a few weeks ago to actually write out what it is I wanted to do, so I could be sure to check things off. All of these we'll do with the kids (and most we've already checked off!) - except watching a scary movie (though Brave might count, lol). Do you have any "must dos" for the Fall?