Saying Goodbye...

This past Saturday, Keegan's babysitter headed off to college.  She will be playing women's soccer for Ashland University and she was to report to school on August 14th.  We went to her home on Sunday morning to say our goodbyes and let Lexi know how much we have appreciated her over the last 2 years.  Lexi was the first person, outside of our family, to watch Keegan.  She started watching him when he was only 5-6 months old so I could go workout, go play golf, or when my mom could not watch him when I had to work.  It is always hard trusting a "stranger" watch your child but Lexi has become part of our family. 
We wish her all the happiness and success over the next 4 years at Ashland University.  We are already planning on making a trip to one of her home soccer games in September. 
It is going to be an adjustment not having Lexi around to help out, but I am sure thankful for the all the help and love she has given to Keegan!
Here is a few pictures of Lexi and Keegan over the past two years....

First Soccer Game (7 months old)!

Lexi's parents, Mark and Sandra...wonderful people!!

7 months old modeling the famous shirt!

Copley vs Revere (Copley wins!!)

20 months old at Senior's Night!

Lexi with her awesome parents!

Suprising Lexi at her Prom!





A rose and a kiss for his special lady!

Thank you for everything Lexi!!!  We will miss you....



 



Already sporting the Ashland University shirt!



Keegan's First Car!

I always joke that Keegan is growing up so fast that before we know it, Kevin and I will be buying him a car for his 16th birthday.  Well, leave it up to Kevin to make that reality come true at the age of 2!!

I came home from work this past Saturday to find that we now owned 3 cars instead of 2!!!  Kevin explained to me that he was at a garage sale and just HAD to get Keegan this motorized car!  I will agree that he got it for a great bargain but it still amused me what Kevin and Keegan do while I am working!

So, Keegan decided to show mom his new wheels.  I think I was laughing and smiling so much that I was almost in tears.  It was probably one of the cutest things I have seen!  Take a look for yourselves...

"I can't hear you, I have the top down!"

Looking good!

Keegan still does not get the hang of the steering wheel yet, so Kevin has to be there making sure we do not have any collisions.  And I do have to admit that Kevin was right...Keegan just HAD to have this toy!!


Chicago 2011

We traveled to Chicago this summer to visit Auntie Shelley.  Shelley is my best friend from college and we try to see each other twice a year.  It was my turn to make the trip so I thought it would be fun to bring along with boys.  Shelley's parents were gracious enough to allow all of us to stay in their home.  Shelley's mom cooked us breakfast, lunch, and dinner for almost all the days that we stayed there.  I decided to call her home a Bed and Breakfast because we were so spoiled. 
The first day there we headed to the Brookfield Zoo with Shelley, Shelley's friend Donna, and her little girl.  Of course it decided to rain for the majority of the day but we made the best of it.

On the tram taking a tour of the zoo!

The next day we went to the Children's Museum.  This was probably my favorite stop of the trip.  The Museum had a water area with bubbles, an area for muscial instruments, and a ton of various other interactive stations.

Future Engineer!

Auntie Shelley and Keegan.

A sound is made when you step on the light.

"Wow!"

Making bubbles!

"Fixing it!"



Keegan just will not look at the camera for any pictures..uggg!

It was a wonderful trip!  We are so blessed to have Shelley in our lives and we were so grateful for her parent's hospitality.  We hope to make a trip back next summer!

Peach Cobbler

I combined two versions of Paula Deen's (Best Desserts and foodnetwork.com) peach cobbler to make this version.  It was out of this world.  I had to give the remaining cobbler to our neighbors or else I would have eaten the entire thing!

Peach Cobbler

• 8 peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
• 1 cup of peach juice
• 1/4 cup peach schnapps
• 1 stick of butter
• 2 cups of baking mix
• 2.5 cups sugar
• 1.5 cups half and half
• Vanilla ice cream

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, mix all the cut up peaches with the peach juice,1/2 cup of sugar, and the peach schnapps.
2. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.  Stir often and make sure the sugar is dissolved.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Put the butter in a 13x9 dish and place into oven to melt all the butter.
5. In another bowl, combine the 2 cups of sugar, baking mix, and half and half. 
6. Pour batter into baking dish over the butter.
7. Arrange peaches on top of batter.  Do not stir the peaches.
8. Pour the liquid from the saucepan over top of the peaches.
9. Bake for 1 hour.
10. Serve with ice cream!!!

Hawaiian Bread

I had a friend request this recipe so here it is for all to have.  This recipe makes 2 loaves, so if you need to let me taste a loaf for you, I would be glad to!!!

Hawaiian Bread


1.5 cups vegetable oil

3 large eggs

2 cups mashed ripe bananas

1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 loaf pans (9x5 inch). In a large bowl, beat oil and eggs with an electric mixer at medium spped. Beat in bananas, pineapple, and vanilla, until combined.

In another large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add to oil mixture, beating until combined. Stir in coconut and nuts.

Pou batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake 50-55 minutes, or until a tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks. Enjoy!

*Recipe from Paula Deen Magazine (Divine Desserts)

Parties, Babies, and a New Room!



June has been a very busy month.  I decided to host a party for my girlfriends at my home in mid June.  I had a Mexican themed meal and ended the evening with apple pie tarts and vanilla ice cream.  Yum!  I asked a Willow House consultant to come and help decorate and stage the food and then a Pampered Chef consultant to come and help prepare the food.  After we all ate a wonderful meal, we then sat around and shopped through the Willow House and Pampered Chef catalogs. 



There has been a huge baby boom in the month of June.  On June 4th, Kevin's cousin, Beth, delivered a baby boy.  His name is Declan Robert...love that name.  Unfortunately, they live in New York, so I have not been able to see the baby.  Then on June 20th,  my dear friend, Carole, also delivered a baby boy...Carson Richard!  Since she does live close I am planning on delivering her some food.  I remember when family and friends would bring over meals and baked goods to me after Keegan was born.  It was such a tremendous help to have a hot meal and not have to make it!!  I try to return the favor to my family and friends when their little ones arrive home.  I decided to make one of my favorite bread recipes of Paula Deen's, called Hawaiian Bread. It is made with coconut, pineapple, and tons of sugar!! Since I just purchased the mini muffin pan from Pampered Chef, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it out.  I was not disappointed.  I will never cook in a regular bread pan again!  I also plan on taking another Paula Deen favorite..stuffed shells with cream cheese, spinach, garlic, ground turkey, and cheese.  Yummo!

Right out of the oven!

Beautiful!!

The other project that Kevin and I have been working on is setting up Keegan's new room.  He will be moving out of the nursery and into his new room.  We just finished painting his room a light blue and are waiting for all his bedding to arrive.  The theme of the room will be baseball.  Pictures will be added in the next week once the room is completed.

Besides cooking, baking, painting, and chasing after a two year old...not much else is new!  The pregnancy continues to have its good and bad days.  I relish those good days and I am just patient when a bad day arrives.  I am now 25 weeks pregnant and the baby is as active as ever!  I feel a ton of movement throughout the day. 

 Keegan is doing very well.  He is enjoying days in the pool, helping dad in the yard, and helping mom in the kitchen.  His new favorite routine is bedtime.  He will now "cuddle" on our bed and watch the Indians while eating pretzels.  Throughout the game, Keegan will often say "Go Tribe!"  Too bad it isn't helping us win any games!

July looks to be another busy month.  We plan on taking road trips to both Fort Wayne and Chicago to visit my college friends.  We are looking forward to the month ahead!

Easter Egg Hunt and Painting!

Keegan participated in his first Easter egg hunt.  He was paired in the 2-4 age group and was probably the youngest one there.  He took a few minutes to survey the area and watch the older and more experienced kids run around and pick up the eggs.  Once he figured it out and figured out that there was candy inside those colored balls...well, he was off and running!  It stopped raining during the 3 minute egg hunt but it was cold and damp!  Afterwards, the kids were treated to a cookie.

Kevin had Good Friday off, so we decided to spend some family time at All Fired Up ( a local paint your own pottery studio).  Keegan enjoyed painting his plate but the highlight was playing in the water to clean all the dirty paintbrushes!  After it was all said and done his pants and shirt were soaked! 

And my favorite picture of the day shows Keegan and his personality!  Can you tell he is so tired of me taking a picture of his every move!  "MOM...do you really have to take another picture of me!"