Our Weekend + Crack Snack

Our first weekend in our new home was successful. While Lucas worked on Saturday I took Elliana to mom's, where she stayed for the night so we could finish up a few things in the house, including her big girl bed!

We had a few friends over Saturday night. The bonus room is already paying off, the guys played Madden football upstairs while the ladies stayed downstairs and watched some scary movies. Oculus and 13 Sins were the picks. I have to say both were pretty good in my opinion. Oculus is more haunting scary, and 13 Sins is more action than scary. Have you seen them? What are your thoughts? 

Since we had our first little gathering here, I had to prep for guests. Everyone brought some snacks, but I had to make my favorite snack ever..what I like to call "Crack Snack". Because it's sooo addicting. 

Best part?? It's so easy to make!

Ingredients:

Popcorn

Chex

Pretzel Sticks

Candy Corn

Almond Bark

Sprinkles 

(makes it more festive!)

I put popcorn, chex, and pretzel sticks on a baking pan (lined with foil). Pour melted almond bark over it, and mix it together. Then add candy corn, sprinkles, a little bit more almond bark, and mix again. Let it harden and you're good to go! You can always add or substitute ingredients. I like to use m&ms when it's not fall time. And since we were watching scary movies that night I felt like Halloween sprinkles would be fitting ;)

Sunday Lucas and I spent it working at the house after church. We accomplished so much in so little time, I was quite proud of ourselves! We can now park in our garage (WOOHOO!), we have clean clothes, fresh cut grass, and Elliana has her big girl bed up! We ended up putting my old bed in her room for her because we felt like she outgrowing the toddler bed (that happens when you have a toddler and 6 baby dolls in a bed). She is loving it so far! I can't wait to share pictures once we are finished with her room. 

Now that we are moved in and settled, I am now in party mode! Our sweet girl's birthday is next week, and we are planning a small get together with family and close friends. But the big thing is her present that my dad and I are working on. I won't share all the details now, but it's going to be great!! 

Oh another bonus is I won in my fantasy football league this weekend so I am now 2-0 and DWTS started tonight! What are your thoughts on the cast?

I hope you all had a great weekend spent with loved ones! 

Birthday Week To Dos

With Elliana's 2nd birthday coming up, I've been thinking about fun things I want to do with her the week of her birthday. I love to celebrate all kinds of events and birthdays are definitely one of my favorites, especially when it it's my baby girl's! 

So here is are our Birthday Week To Dos!

1. Start a countdown. Countdowns are a great way to keep kids included in events/holidays, plus it's helps them learn numbers.

2. Pick out a book at the bookstore. Elliana loves books, and enjoys being read to. I also can't count how many times I've peeked in her room at night and she's laying in bed reading to her babies...in the dark. She will enjoy picking out a special book for her special day. 

3. Have a sleepover with mom and dad. Of course this will include her favorite movie, Frozen.

4. Share a treat. It's never to early to teach kids about sharing and serving. Even though this is about Elliana's special day, I want to teach her that there are other people out there who are special and need to know they are loved by others. Elliana is absolutely in love with babies (real and fake ones), so I thought this year we would take a special treat to the local Sav-A-Life office and thank them for taking care of other mommies and babies in our community. 

5. Bake and decorate cookies together. I thought since we will be having plenty of cake at her birthday get together, cookies would be something fun, easy, and different. 

6. Go get some froyo in pajamas the night before birthday. Yum...I'm getting more and more excited about this week! I have always wanted to do this! 

7. Put balloons in her room before she wakes up on her birthday! This will require some serious ninja moves, luckily she's pretty deep sleeper.

8. Decorate her chair at the table. I have a feeling this might make staying at the table a little bit easier for her.

9. Have a festive breakfast. More than likely it will be our traditional funfetti pancakes!

10. Let her open a present in the morning before daddy leaves. With Lucas' work we never know when he will be home, sometimes he gets home after her bedtime. So this will be an enjoyable moment for both of them. 

11. Decorate the car. Haven't quite decided what I want to do with this yet, but the possibilities are endless! 

12. Make her lunch extra special! Since she will be going to school on her birthday, I have all kinds of ideas I want to do for her lunchbox, and plus bake a little something for the class to share as well. 

Well there you have it! I'm really excited about her birthday this year, I guess because she is older, and will be able to do more things and understand them better. But that doesn't mean I don't miss my little baby that she once was. 

What traditions do you have to celebrate your little ones?

Life Update

I know it's been forever and a day since I have had a chance to do any updates. Buying and selling a house is the most stressful thing I have done. I look forward to us settling in our "forever" home so we won't have to do this again....hopefully.

It has been a CRAZY month for us. With Lucas' demanding hours at work, the house situation, packing/moving, little miss starting preschool, and few other things that I could add, but it would pretty much take up this whole post. I'm surprised I can remember my name half the time. Our closing date has been moved to next week, and once we close on our current home we will be able to move in the new house. Right now we are staying with Lucas' parents, because we did not know about our closing being delayed until AFTER we moved out. But we know everything happens for a reason and God is taking care of it (:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We are still looking forward to moving in our new house, and making plans for what we want to do with decorating and some home improvements. Here are a few pictures of the inside!

That walk-in pantry! A woman's dream!

Master bedroom and closet

Part of the family room.

And this room is what sold me. The upstairs bonus room. I have big plans for this room including a play area for Elliana. 

Of course there are other bedrooms, and baths, but who hasn't seen one of those? I'm so so ready to get in there and make it our own. And with Elliana's 2nd birthday coming up I'm really hoping we can get settled in time to have a little get together for her. 

And as always what's a post without a little cuteness?? Here is Elliana on her first day of 2-PreK. She had a great first week, and from what I hear her favorite class so far is P.E. (: