a MUST try

I'm not very good at photographing/staging food but trust me, this picture doesn't do this EASY recipe justice. I got the Southern Living Holiday Cookbook and most of my menu this week is from that book. But THIS particular recipe was wonderful and verrrry easy to prepare!

Ravioli in Basil-Cream Sauce

1 (24-oz.) package frozen ravioli (cheese, beef, or mushroom)
2 Tbsp. butter
1 (8-oz.) package sliced fresh mushrooms
3 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1 (10-oz.) can diced mild tomatoes and green chiles, drained
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt

Prepare ravioli in a large Dutch oven according to package directions; drain and keep warm in separate dish.

Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and next 3 three ingredients; saute 6 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and green chiles, basil, and cream; bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, and simmer (uncovered), stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in cheese, salt and ravioli, tossing to coat.

Interesting Christmas

This year was the first year for me to have a White Christmas...and I mean REALLY white! The kind of white that isn't even fun because the wind is blowing to hard and the snow is too deep for you to get outside in it. Much different than when it snows in Texas. And almost a week later there is still TONS of snow on the ground. We almost didn't make it to my mom's house in Texas because we could barely get out of our driveway! We got stuck 3 times on our street and then we had one small mishap on 35 that ended in a tow truck pulling us out of the snow (thank you Lord). Here are a few pictures from our week.

Trying to go south on 35...this was what we saw the whole way!

The good news is Jack and Jacob are starting to play together! The bad news is they are already starting to "fight" :)

My mom got Jacob a little Handy Manny car and he doesn't quite fill it up so she put a 2 liter Dr. Pepper in there to weigh him down...innovative I suppose:) Jacob seemed to enjoy it!

Jack's big thing this year was 'trains' so he got plenty of train accessories including a Lionel Lines remote control train. He loves it!

Erik remembered why he longed for warmer weather when he decided to move from Nebraska to Texas for college. He hasn't had to shovel snow in almost 10 years!!!! He did a great job clearing our driveway although he did end up taking some Celebrex later that day because he said his back hurt:)

Catching up on Christmas Eve

I haven't posted pictures in a while because Erik got me a new computer for my birthday and I just haven't uploaded photos yet...so here goes a VERY long picture update about the last few BUSY weeks:) In no particular order we visited Dallas, Paris (TX), Dallas again, aunt Krystal's graduation at DBU, and family visited us in OKC.

Christmas Eve---it takes ALL three men in my family to keep me warm:)

Bundled up for the 3 seconds he was outside. It's pretty much a blizzard out there and Jacob did not like it!

Sometimes after he goes potty he forgets to put his pants back on.

No words.

Jacob makes the cutest faces with soon to be AUNT Courtney!

Again...cute.

Jeremy and Courtney came to visit us for Christmas and the boys loved their gifts!

Last week we decorated cookies.

FINALLY started hanging some curtains...

Jacob with his "Gigi" (great grandmother Rolofson)

Figured I'd take a picture of the tree before the boys found a way to push it over or climb the branches:)

Being silly with Grandpa's glasses

Jacob greeted me after the half marathon!

While we were in Dallas we took Jack to see the trains at Northpark which he LOVED!

Dad and Jack. Obviously more interested in the trains.

So good to see Jared (Big Bear) and Meghan while we were in Texas.

We went to Granna's school and Jack helped her teach her 3rd grade class.

Uncle Jeremy and soon to be Aunt Courtney and their engagement party. They asked both Jack and Jacob to be ring bearers so I'll get to walk down the aisle holding Jacob's hand on June 12! We can't wait!

Jacob is growing up...

Well 8 months into his life Jacob decided to start doing a few things! FINALLY he rolled over this week:) I am not rushing him to do anything...in fact, I really want him to stay a baby a little longer. Jack just went WAY too fast through infanthood so I'm not pushing Jacob to do anything! One thing I am verrrrrry excited about is that he says "MAMA"!!!!!! I think he first said it on my birthday but Erik doesn't believe me:) Jack said "DADA" first and didn't say "MAMA" until like 9 months later!!! LOVING having my momma's boy.

13.1

Today I completed the White Rock half marathon and I achieved my goal of running the entire thing but I wasn't entirely pleased with my time of 2 hours 15 minutes:( But I guess I can live with that time since I've had 2 c sections since the last few I've done :) Sadly, I also wasn't impressed with the race this yr. Last time I ran it there were tons of people, organizations, bands, elvis impersonators, johnny cash wannabees, and just fun stuff throughout the entire course to distract you from the fact that you still had 9 more miles to go. They changed the course since then and it was mostly residential streets and not many people were out. The last few miles were on Katy Trail and there really were not very many people there which was dissappointing:( I mean, you think that the last part of the race should be fun, exciting, loud, and motivating. The end of this race was almost downright depressing. I saw the sign for mile 11 and I swear I saw a frowny face under it! Unless things change that may be my last White Rock half. There were also SOOO many people running that I didn't stop weaving in and out of crowds until about mile 10. I got so dizzy constantly avoiding people and watching my step. Oh well, I accomplished my goal and now I can look toward the next one I guess!

p.s. Celebrex is amazing.

christmas-y

We decorated for Christmas a few weeks ago and much to my surprise all our stockings are still hanging and gifts are still wrapped. Jack must be too scared to touch anything because I know he wants to swing from the fireplace!

Thanksgiving in Little Rock

This year we drove to Erik's aunt and uncle's house in Little Rock for Thanksgiving. The boys loved it and I hardly held my kiddos the whole time which was nice to have family there to love on the boys.

We let Jacob sample some mashed potato and it wasn't long before he was double fisting those things into his mouth!
Jack loved playing with his cousin Rachel the entire time.

Jack and Jacob with Erik's brother...uncle Leif

Antlers on his head and a bandaid on his face...kinda looks like a deer that got grazed by a car or something:)

They were right next to each other all weekend!

family pics

a few weeks ago we had some family pictures taken and I thought I would post a few of them without completely spoiling our Christmas card:) Photos taken by the talented Amanda Stulce...thank you for being SO patient with our uncooperative sons!

finally a finished room...

Jacob's room is the first room in our house to be complete...finally...after a few weeks and many trips to hobby lobby:)

looking in from the door

sitting in the rocker view...see Jacob in his crib?

Jack singing

Never been done before...

There is one thing that I've never done since Erik and I have been married and that is....fry food. That isn't my cooking method of choice but I bit the bullet this week and busted out the cast iron skillet. Chicken fried chicken smothered in gravy=happy husband.

no turning back now...

On Sunday December 13th I officially have a date with my first half marathon since I had Jack and Jacob. I've only gotten up to 8 miles in my training because, well, it's hard with 2 boys and the jogger is so heavy. Pray for me. Dallas White Rock here I come!

a few house pics

To preface this, we are FAR from done with our house...but so many people want to see more so I'll post pictures...but just know we're still waiting on furniture, peeling wall paper, and hanging decor. The guest room and guest bathroom won't be photographed for another week or so...it's a danger zone in there!

finally got some pictures ordered and framed from when Josh and Jenny Cobbs took pictures after Jacob was born (www.joshuacobbs.com)

Jacob's room is still not complete but here is what we've got so far.

looking in from the door

still waiting on Jack's dresser and nightstand but again, here's what we've got now...

Did I mention we have a basketball hoop? I have to admit I use it and I love it:)

What do you do with a wet bar with ugly wall paper? Any suggestions? I want to turn it in to a computer desk area but apparently the plumbing thing is an issue...

bad picture but I love the sink and folding area in my laundry room

catching up

Jacob has developed a pretty good case of separation anxiety...so much so that he pretty much hyproventilates (sp?) when someone else holds him. I was picking up the clothes from the cleaners the other day and the lady looked in the window at Jacob and he started having what sounded like an asthma attack because he thought the lady was going to pick him up! I literally had to pull the car over and hold him until he calmed down.

Jack is at such a fun age! He sings all the words to Jesus Loves Me and The Lord's Army. He sings several other things, too. He has started to memorize scripture as well...we started with an easy one "God is love":) His speech is sooo cute. When he goes #2 in the potty he will tell me "come and yook at what my did" haha. He also says "where my toy at go?" I am going to try and post a video of him singing happy birthday and the abc's soon:)

Jacob is a momma's boy:)
of course the first thing he put on after bath time was a cowboy boot!


Jack was forcing my head awkwardly to the side...but cute pic of the boys:)

we FINALLY got to make Erik his favorite berry cream cupcakes (recipe adapted from lindsayskitchen.blogspot.com)

Matt came into town on business and came to see us! Thanks Amy for sending the flowers...they were so uplifting for me!

Jack has been loving playing with his buddy Noah. Noah's parents are fellow baylor bears!

Thinking about crawling

When you don't have to girls to play dress up with, you play dress up with your sons:)