Busy Week...

What a busy and stressful week this has been so far. It seems several things are going on around here and hopefully things start slowing down again.

First, my dad went to the Dr on Monday because he has been not feeling recovered since his shoulder surgery in November. While he was there they noticed that his hear was racing at a dangerously high rate and wanted him to go to the hospital so they admitted him into ICU. It is scary anytime a loved one goes into the hospital especially when it is heart related. They hooked him up to an IV drip with medicine that would hopefully lower his heart rate. Yesterday they put him on a different one and as of last report he seems to be getting better. They aren't really sure what is causing his heart to beat so fast. He is out of ICU and as long as he continues on the right track then he should be coming home sometime tomorrow. THANK GOODNESS!!!

Jimmy leaves Friday morning for Vancouver, Canada. He will be there for two weeks competing in the Olympics. Tee hee just kidding. He will be working for Bed Bath and Beyond to open a new store. He really loves opening stores even though they work a lot of long and hard hours. He actually flies home a couple days before the Olympics start. Tomorrow we have to spend the day getting him ready and I have to babysit so today we played outside in the snow and just kicked back.

Jimmy pulled Emilee and I on the sled for about and hour with the four wheeler. Emilee is such an outside girl and it doesn't matter what the temperature is. Neither one of us can wait until spring so we are no longer cooped up onside this house. It was fun playing in the snow today so hopefully we get some more soon. This picture is one I took today while Jimmy was just pulling Em. I love the expression on her face and Cody running behind her cracks me up.

Recipes!

I recently made some cookies and some peanut butter balls that several people requested the recipe for so I thought I would go ahead and post them.
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
3 med mashed bananas
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cups chips

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in the bananas, oats and chocolate chips.

2. Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 in apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 min.

We used the peanut butter flavored chips and added a little extra flour to the recipe. The recipe is from my The Taste of Home Baking Cookbook. Everyone in our house loves these yummy cookies and I don't mind having them in the house.

We also made some peanut butter balls for Emilee to take to story time and everyone wanted that recipe. It is different from other recipes because it calls for rice cereal. We will definitely be using this recipe again.

Peanut Butter Crispy Balls

1 cup peanut butter
2 cup powder sugar
1/2 cup butter
1.5 cup rice cereal
1 cup chocolate chips- We used vanilla almond bark

Melt peanut butter and butter in pan over low.
Mix cereal and sugar in a bowl. Add the butter mixture and mix well.
Form 1" balls and put on cookie sheet. Chill until firm. Melt Chocolate and dip the balls in the chocolate. Put back on the sheet and chill again until firm.

Here are two of my favorite pictures of the kids right now. I took the one of Emilee around Christmas time and my good friend took the one of Ethan just last week. I wish I could take portraits like she does. Here is her link http://melissaweissphotography.com/blog/ if you would like to check out some of here other work. She has some of Emilee as well as Ethan's newborn shots featured on her site as well.

I can't believe January well over half over. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Christmas and the new year. The kids have been keeping me busy but so far I have been keeping up with my new year's goals.
Everyday I have posted my photo on my blog and I am looking forward to reviewing them all at the end of the year. I said I wasn't going to post pictures of my kids everyday but I am glad that the pictures represent something from our day in one way or another.
I am also still working toward my goal of weight lose. I am learning to enjoy working out and although I am not really dieting I am happy with my results thus far. Last night was my first night of a five week aerobics class and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to workout and just focus on myself for a little bit. I felt refreshed going home to my kiddos and my husband after the 1 1/2 workout.
Yesterday Ethan had his four month check up and is doing great. He weighs 13 lbs 9 oz and 25 in long. He is in 25% for weight and 50% for height. I knew he is smaller than Em was at this age but after looking in her baby book I realized he is quiet a bit lighter. 3 pounds to be exact. Man she was a little butter ball. He is hitting all his milestones right on target and the Dr said we can go ahead and start feeding him cereal. He is such a joy and loves his sister so much.
Emilee is doing great. I think we might be moving past the terrible two stage. Hopefully!! She still has her days but it seems to be getting better. She is very independent these days so I am adjusting to that. I miss my baby girl but enjoy seeing her emerge into her own person. She loves to sing and dance. She loves to snuggle her brother and play with him which makes him smile and coo. I am amazed at how she is learning. She can recognize all uppercase letters and is working on numbers. We are also working on recognizing letter sounds and having fun with that. I was so proud the other day when she traced her name that I am debating posting a picture of it. She is looking forward to starting preschool next year and is telling everyone.
Well, I guess that is all for today. I need to get up and get moving. I will try to update this a little more frequently and add some pictures. This blog is not quite where I want it to be yet but I will try to get it there soon.

Monday Monday!

Here is our Muffin Tin Monday. There was no theme and we had a late breakfast since my husband works late today! Biscuit, sausage, milk, biscuit and gravy, egg, hashbrowns. I am excited about next weeks theme and look forward to seeing everyone elses ideas!

Muffin Tin Monday! 4 Seasons Style!

Today is going our first time participating online in the Muffin Tin Monday. We have been doing it but I just have not posted the pictures. Em loves getting her lunch in a muffin tin and it is a great opportunity to switch things up. This weeks theme was "Back to School and Learning." I took this opportunity to teach her about the four seasons.

Snow covered trees for winter=broccoli dipped in ranch

falling leaves in Autumn=leaf ham cutouts

flowers in Spring=cheese flowers

lots of sunshine and blue skies in summer=banana suns and milk in blue cup.

Five pounds missing...If found please DO NOT Return!

It has been only been nine days into the new year and I have lost five pounds and stuck with my workouts. Yay!! I have actually been working on losing weight and been doing OK on it since our baby was born in September but now I am getting serious and am happy with my progress thus far. I will admit that I did miss one Jillian workout on my Wii and thought I would just be able to do it the next day but that is not the case. I now have a permanent red check on that day. I won't let that happen again. I decided that if I reach my goal of losing 28 pounds by April 1 then I will reward us with a new wii game. I am thinking either Biggest Loser, Wii Active, or fit plus. Only 23 more pounds to go.
I have also been keeping up with my Project 365 although not as well as I would like. I have been finding it hard to get some good pictures in and discouraged by my skills. I have been reading up online and talking to a friend and I have realized that I am not using my camera to its full potential. I am now working on learning the different features and camera lingo. I have ideas on how I want my pictures to look and I have the tools I just need to learn how to do it.
It is nice having something that I enjoy doing to work on even though it is sometimes hard to find a few uninterrupted minutes to myself. I am determined to stick with my resolutions though. I will also be working on my blog in the near future so check back soon.

Beautiful Day!

Today has been a lovely day. It was a beautiful sunrise which started the day full of hopes. The sun was shining and the temperatures were pretty decent which put our sweet little girl who has not been so sweet in a great mood. It was so nice having a break from the whinny, argumentative, very energetic, and non-listening two year old that we have been experiencing. I know the good weather and attitude will not last but for today we are enjoying it. I can not wait until spring! Til then we continue to find things to keep us busy in where it is warm.
I have joined a group on facebook where everyone in the group commits to posting a photo hat they have taken. Some have committed to a daily post while others have opted for a weekly post. I have decided to do the daily post and I have to say I am really enjoying it. I am still an amateur but hope to get some tips and ideas to make the most of my pictures. I hope you stop by my rossfamilyproject365 and my pictures!

Happy New Year!

Well another year has come and went and now it is 2010! I can't believe 2010. It seems like we just partied like it was 1999. I hope to make this new year a memorable year. I have made a few resolutions and am going to stick to them. Of course I plan to lose weight which I have been working on already. I would like to lose 28 pounds by April 1, 2010 but as long as I am losing and getting closer to that number I will not fret about the date. My husband got me the Jillian Micheals Wii game for Christmas and I have been doing that for about a week now and let me tell you...It kicks my hinny. I can't wait until the spring weather so we can get outside and go for walks again.
My other resolution is to be a better mom to my two little ones through patience, understanding and unconditional love. Having a 2 year old has proven to be a challenge and I just want to make sure that I continue to guide her through life showing her the best ways to handle situations. She's pretty smart so and I want to continue preparing her for pre school through fun and educational activities. For Ethan I want him to know that I am hear for him for everything he needs since he is so dependant upon others. I am so blessed that I have a hardworking and understand husband so that I am able to stay home with our little ones. I want to support him and let him know that I am here for him and he is my best friend. Here is to the new year and all that is in store for the Ross family. Cheers!