What mom's do best...

Sick kiddos, long day.
There will be *at least* two posts tomorrow.
Hopefully more.

I will just say that we have actually had a pretty great day.
Lots of hugs, back rubs, playing together, laughs, daddy coming home early (yay!!!) and a puppet show put on by the boys.
Who says you can't have fun while everyone is stuck inside not feeling too great?!

I'm off to snuggle with Tave & give another back rub...that is, afterall, what mom's do best.
I love my job.

N is for....

Nest!

Once a week Weston's preschool has Cooking Day. A mom comes in to do a fun cooking project that starts with the letter of the week. I came in this week for letter N.

Weston & I picked out this fun treat to make. He was SO excited for me to come and told me all day that I was the best mom ever. He also couldn't wait to show off his brothers to his preschool class. It was so sweet & such a blast. The nests were a hit: fast, easy, and super fun to make! Triple win!!

Here's the recipe. I've also included some yummy variations.

BIRD NEST CLUSTERS

(this is the recipe I used. I want to try it with butterscotch chips now)


1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter (I used creamy & it was great)

4 c. chow mein noodles (6 oz. bag)
Jellybeans, M & M's or little candies

Put chocolate chips into a large glass bowl. Melt in microwave or stove top. Remove the mixture and stir. Place it back in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes more or until chocolate is melted. Add the chow mein noodles. Mix the noodles by using one or two forks or spoons to get them evenly coated with the chocolate mixture.
Lay a piece of waxed paper over two cookie sheets. Drop golf ball clusters on the cookie sheets to cool and set. Add a few colored candies as eggs to the nests.


EASTER BIRD NESTS

1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 (12 oz.) pkg. butterscotch chips
1 lg. can chow mein noodles
Jelly beans

Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips over slow heat. Pour over chow mein noodles. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Put a large tablespoon of chocolate-covered noodles on waxed paper. Form like a bird nest. Put 2 jelly beans in nest to look like bird eggs. Refrigerate until firm.


CRISPY EASTER NESTS

1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme (about 2 c.)
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 (5 oz.) can chow mein noodles (about 3 c.)
1 c. chopped holiday plain M & M's
Holiday peanut chocolate M & M's

Combine marshmallow creme, peanut butter and butter; mix until blended. Add noodles and 1 cup holiday plain chopped M & M's; blend well. Drop by 1/3 cupfuls onto greased cookie sheets; shape with greased fingers to form nests. Let stand until firm. Dust bottom of nests with powdered sugar if desired. Fill with holiday peanut M & M's before serving. Makes 10 to 12 nests or 18 to 20 smaller nests.

Enjoy!

Do you see it????

He has the cutest chunkiest little thighs, the squishiest most kissable cheeks,

and NOW he has his hair back to boot.

It's official: I am even more in love!

Happy Birthday Jeff!!

Jeff turned the big 2-9

We had a week long celebration that was absolutely fabulous!

I hope he felt very loved, because he sure is!!!

The first thing we did to celebrate was my birthday present to Jeff: An entire day-long surprise date sans kiddos. (We have only left Ryder one other date so this was a pretty big deal.) A huge thanks to Shawn & Abby and Jonathan & Rachel who each watched the kiddos for half a day. It was THE.BEST. date we've had in a loooooong time and so needed!

The Sat. of Birthday Week we started out the day miniture golfing at Trafalga. Then we went to lunch, then to a movie (The Tourist), then to Jeff's favorite store where he picked out his birthday present. Afterwards we went out to dinner, grabbbed Coldstone and then headed home just in time to visit with the kiddos, put them to bed, and have a quiet evening to ourselves. It really could not have been any more perfect.

The Monday of Birthday Week we took the kids to use Jeff's free birthday meal at Fuddruckers. They LOVED celebrating daddy's birthday and having a special date. They are at such fun ages...it really isn't a hassle to bring them out to a restaraunt, they just love it and are so adorable the entire time. We had a blast with our little family of 5.

Tuesday of Birthday Week Jeff's gift from the boys arrived in the mail. They COULD.NOT.WAIT to give it to him. Tave just couldn't hold that kind of a secret in..he was trying so hard to tell Jeff what they got him while I was trying hush him up....

So he opened it a day early and they have had a blast with him:

(they truly picked it out on their own to go with their guys that Santa brought)

Wednesday of Birthday Week was Jeff's actual Birthday! So we celebrated with fun signs hung all over the house that we colored telling Jeff why we love him. That night we had birthday smoothies (since Jeff & I are cutting waaaay back on the sugar) it was a hit!

Sunday of Birthday Week we had over all the sibs & our wonderful friends for a little birthday shindig with dessert. Jeff's favorite dessert is ice cream so I got off easy by just making brownies to go with it.


Whew, it really was a wonderful, week-long celebration of my very favorite man.
I love this guy more than I ever dreamed possible.
Here's to an amazing 30th year babe!
Happy Birthday to you.

01.22.11 - 01.28.11

Here's the deal

So. The past few months have been CrAzY Awesome!!
I posted some of what's been going on on my other blog. For those who want to read the details, you can find them here.
But basically, here's the rundown of the wonderful visits we've had:

July - Ryder born, my parents visit.
Aug- Spent as much time as possible with Shar & Trav before they moved to CA.
Sep - Jonathan & Rachel married. Entire Drysdale family comes to Utah. Ryder blessed.
October - Joe & Amanda and boys visit.
Later in Oct - Shar comes to visit.
November - Bijou Market with Endeemade/Jeff goes to TX and returns with Mom & Dad D for Thanksgiving.
December - Mom & Dad A come for Christmas. Shar & Trav come for Grandma Anthony's funeral and spend the weeks after Christmas with us.
January - Ryder & I (Nicole) fly to CA.

Whew. Because of this, I am WAAAY behind in blogging, and pictures, and life.

So here goes. For your looking (and reading if you really want to take the time) pleasure, I'll be posting daily. Yes, DAILY - me. How exciting....I know you all can't wait. ;)
You have current posts to look forward to AND 'blast from the past' posts. (I stole that phrase from Shar- she's going to be giving us blast from the past's too...so be doubley excited!)

See you tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Happy Happy Birthday to my amazing, wonderful, sweet, incredible, thoughtful, and fabulous hubby.

I couldn't do this life without you, and I wouldn't ever want to.

You make everything better. Including me.

I wish you a year full of the very best.

I love you.

Ryder - 6 months

6 months!

I cannot believe our little guy has already been with us for so long.

He is such a joy in our home and truly brings out the best in everyone.

He laughs all the time, especially at his big brothers. Oh how I love his laugh.

He has done great with a bottle & is slowly weaning himself off nursing completely. (sad day for me...but I am happy that he's getting enough food and is healthy)

He is VERY interested in our food and follows every bite we take.

As a result of the previous development, he tried solids for the first time. He didn't love rice cereal like we thought he would. But he sure loved grabbing the spoon.

He's a pro at grabbing toys now.

His favorite toy is his dinosaur.

He thinks plastic bags make the most hilarious sound.

He LOVES being read to and looking at books.

He found his toes and grabs them all the time.

He rolls over to his tummy but still hasn't figured out the opposite direction.

He flew in a plane for the first time this month and was AWESOME for his mama.

He went to the beach for the first time and was fascinated by the sand. He just kept giggling when I'd put his feet in it.

His eye still has a clogged tear duct that drips all.the.time. - causing a little sore by the side of it. :( But he doesn't seem to mind and is SO good when I slather the lotion on.

He really, really, really loves to kick. He kicks his little legs constantly.

His hair is growing back. It's fuzzy & soft and we love it.

He is so happy & smiley.

We simply adore this little man.

My CA trip!!!

01.13.11-01.17.11

I had the most amazing trip to CA to visit my parents & Shar, Trav & the girls!

My wonderful hubby stayed in UT with the oldest boys and I got to have a much needed vacation with my sweet little Ryder. It was an incredible weekend for so many reasons.

First- I got to spend the entire weekend with just this little man:

As a third kiddo, he gets attention, but not nearly as much one-on-one time as the other two had at this age. I now know how quickly the time passes, so I do hold him and snuggle him constantly. Oh I love this little baby. It was absolute bliss to be able to hold him, snuggle him, & love him without having to worry about feeding and caring for two other kiddos. I absolutely loved every minute of my Ryder-only time.

He was also SO awesome at the airport and on the plane. I could not have asked for any better! I was beyond glad that he was taking a bottle since I had men sit by me on both flights. (yea, nursing would have been weird in that confined space!) and lucky me, I did get to bring his carseat so he slept fabulously on the flight!

Thursday afternoon we flew into LA and cute Kapria & Shar were there to meet us. It was awesome to get to visit and talk all we wanted on the drive(2+hours of LA traffic, yay). I am in love with Shar & Trav's cute apartment that is literally 5 minutes from the beach. ahhhhh, heaven.

Thursday early evening

The girls loved holding Ryder, especially Mila! She wanted to be holding 'baby' constantly and if she wasn't holding him, she would try to share with him, push him in the swing, etc. I loved spending time with my sweet nieces.

Thursday night I didn't take ANY photos, darn it! But Trav was awesome and let Shar & I go out for a girls night. We shopped (can I just say, I love H&M...although I didn't find anything for me, just these awesome superhero belts for the boys..their trip gift - perfect!) had smoothies, and talked, and talked, and talked. I love my sister.

Friday we walked to the park.

Need I say more? Okay, I will.

We walked to the park - in January.

It was AWE.SOME. Sweat was dripping down my back and I literally felt like there was no way I could ever, ever, EVER go back to freezing cold Utah. I am a WARM state girl at heart. I truly wanted to cry it was so warm & wonderful & absolutely my heaven on earth. Except my main men weren't there. Oh shoot, I guess I really did have to go back to freezing temps. (good thing those guys are worth it;)

Ryder & I both loved the walk, the sunshine, the park, the friends, and having fun with Shar & the girls.

Friday night was another fun night where I forgot my camera! Shar drove me down to Escondido to meet up with Mom for more girls shopping. Lucky me, I had saved my Christmas $ for this trip. Ryder is a little champ & did fabulous the entire time. After our girls shopping & hanging out, Dad met up with us at Acapulco. mmmm. Then Shar drove home and Ryder & I went to Mom & Dad's.

Saturday we hung out with Mom & Dad. I just love being at their house. Since we had traveled so much and would be driving again on Sun. I opted for a day in! We hung out, watched shows, did a fun sewing project (pics coming soon), and then bbq'd for dinner. It was perfect! (and hopefully not too boring for Dad!)

Sunday we went to church. My Dad is the baby whisperer...he took Ryder the whole time and I was able to enjoy the time with my mom & her young women's group. They are so cute & fun. My mom taught the class and she did so great. She's just awesome.
After church we hung out at the house and I packed, boo :(
Then we drove to the beach by Shar & Trav's place since I would be flying out of the L.A. airport. I love love LOVEd the beach. I really could not get enough of it. The sand, the waves, the beautiful sunset. I have more pics coming soon of the beach. Did I mention I LOVED it?!

Sunday night after the beach we went back to Shar & Trav's for some yummy dessert and to hang out. We talked, watched funny shows, ate good food, laughed, and just enjoyed the time together. I love my family. And the beach. And the warmth.

My parents left around 9 pm. It was sad and I hate goodbyes. Especially when I just didn't get nearly enough time with them. (I wanted to extend my trip, but it cost too much, plus Jeff was home with sick kids, yikes!)

Monday went by waaaay too fast. We talked, ate breakfast, played for a little bit, and then packed up and drove to the airport.

Another goodbye.

I absolutley loved my trip. This middle-of-winter vacation to warm and sunny skies was the perfect thing to help me make it through the rest of winter.

Since it was SO fast and there was so much traveling going I just tried to soak in all the time with each person that I could! It was wonderful. I loved every minute of talking, laughing, & just enjoying my family. I miss them. So very much.

Thanks, for the perfect visit!

I love you.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

01.11.11 (how cool is that?!)

I've said it before, but I got super lucky in the "in-law" department. Seriously, on both sides I have the best ever sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and parents-in-law.

And our very newest addition to the family is no exception.

We are incredibley happy to have Rachel a part of the family. And my boys have officially adopted her sister into ours as well. (they ask when Rachel's friend Sarah is coming over to play!)

We celebrated Rachel's birthday with some yummy treats & her favorite show: Psych. We are now hooked!

My favorite things about Rachel:

her enthusiasm for everything she does

how much she smiles

that she is always so happy to see us

her willingness to serve everyone (this must be why Jonathan & her make such a great pair!)

her laugh

how fun she is

the bucket list...she inspires me to make my own

and how adorable her and Jonathan are as a couple. We are SO glad she said 'Yes' and became part of our family!!

I am excited for all the years we have to become even better friends.

We love you Rachel

Happy Happy Birthday!

yum yum yum...

Ryder has been eyeing our every bite for quite awhile.

When he started reaching and grabbing for it we finally got the hint.

He tried rice cereal first... he thought the spoon was really cool- the food, not so much.

We'll see how he does with other flavors.

1.08.11

Look

These boys.

They make me laugh every.single.day.

I was messing around with some different settings on my camera and took a few shots of Tave. They all looked like this.

Then I went downstairs and told Weston to look at me so I could take a few of him.

He grabbed his blanket and gave me this look as well. (without having seen Tave do it)

I like how similar they are.

Those gorgeous eyes melt my heart every time.

Bean Museum

The Monte L. Bean Museum at BYU is one of our favorite places to go.

The kids are always fascinated, it's warm inside, and they have a cool little play room.

We had so much fun getting to go with all of the cousins- Shar & Trav were still here visiting and Chelsea drove down with all her cute kiddos. Shawn & Abby even came by to hang out with us.

Perfect for a freezing cold day!

Ryder - Before & After

Soooooo....These pictures don't do it justice, but Ryder's hair was pretty patchy. He had a major bald spot in the back and then a chunk of hair at the nape of his neck. Attractive, no? ;) I had *heard* that when you shave a baby's hair it will come back in more even and thick. So I figured we'd give it a try...after all, he is just a baby, doesn't have much hair anyways, and it will grow back quickly.
So we did it.

Here's the before:

I waited a few days to take the after shot because he (and I) were so traumatized from the head shaving experience. Granted, he didn't really realize he was bald, he just hated the clippers. I, on the otherhand, cried as soon as I did it. Truly. The clippers were turned off and the regret was INSTANT. He didn't look like my baby anymore. And those little patches of hair - that receding hairline and baby mohawk - it added up to a LOT of hair. Hair that I miss.

Ryder after:












Boohoohoohoohoohoohoohoo....
I'm still crying over it.

But he's still sweet, still smiley, and still mine all mine.
I love this boy.

Blast from the Past: Abreu Family Christmas

01.02.11
Since my parents were here for Christmas and Shar & Trav were in town, we waited for Shawn & Abby to get back so we could do the big family celebration together.

We went up to Chelsea & Rob's for the fun!!
We had fun hanging out, talking, eating good food, and just being together:

The kiddos were beyond thrilled to all be together again and were so much fun to watch. We had saved the cousin gift exchange for this party. They understood the whole gift thing, now, so they were super excited to open another gift.

It was really fun to spread out the celebrations!