Dylan...

We could not be happier and prouder to be your parents Dylan. The past 3 years have been absolutely amazing. They have been the best 3 years of our lives...and it has only just begun! You have grown and learned so much the past 3 years, you amaze us everyday. You are such a smart, funny, considerate, and loving young boy. You have definitely turned into a young boy the past year (but you will always be mommy's baby boy!!). You no longer wear diapers, you laugh at jokes, tell funny stories, sing songs, make up your own songs, say your ABCs and count, talk NON-STOP, love golf and bowling, play T-Ball, getting ready to start pre-school, remember things, cook...

Dylan Jacob,

As you turn 3 today I think about the 9 months I was pregnant with you. I enjoyed those 9 months so much. I loved the idea that I was about to be a mommy. When I bought that first blue outfit (it was 3 onesies, and a dump truck short outfit) I couldn't believe that I was going to have a son. A little boy was going to be mine. I could have never imagined that it would be as fun as it is. I will never forget the Friday afternoon you were born. I was sure you would come out with a head full of dark brown hair (just like you momma) but you didn't!! You didn't have much hair at all, and it wasn't brown, it was blond!! You did have the brightest blue eyes though. The second daddy brought you into the recovery room I was in love. I don't think I had ever felt so proud, happy, scared, and excited in my life. I have fallen more and more in love with you each and every day. I could not be a prouder mommy, and I am so lucky that you are mine to love and care for.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Love,

Mommy

Dylan's Birthday Parties

Birthday party #1-BBQ
This party was with my family and few friends. All of the kids got these goofy glasses in there
"party baskets". So cute!All of the kids got a pail with some things to do outside. My dad made the cake...a tradition in our family. When my sister and I were younger he would make a cake in the shape of our age. This year he made a 3 for Dylan. Dylan requested yellow frosting and yellow sprinkles. Usually red is his favorite color, so we asked several times what color he wanted and he always came back to yellow!! We let the kids attempt to go down a slip and slide. It wasn't too successful! Dylan wasn't too fond of going down on his belly, so he ran down most of the time! Dylan and his friend Elijah waiting to go down. Elijah sure had fun, he would run down and then slide. It was so fun to watch him!! Miss Ava isn't so sure she wants to join the boys!

Party #2 was with Seth's family. We took Dylan and his cousins golfing. These are the golf cupcakes Dylan and I made. I had no luck finding cupcake ideas online for a golf theme, so I did this! I thought they turned out pretty cute, and they were VERY easy!! Dylan loved playing putt putt with his cousins. Seth's brother and sister have 3 kids each, and a cousin has 2 so there were 9 kids total for the day. You may be saying to yourself...I didn't know Quinci was so talented and could make such a cute shirt...well trust me, I'm not, and I didn't make that shirt!! I had it custom made by the fabulous Rachel at goldenshop. Her stuff is so darn cute and she is easy and fun to work with!! I can't wait for another baby someday so I can order more from her!! I love her bibs and party hats. Just perfect for a 1st birthday!!

Here Dylan and a couple of his cousins are playing putt putt!

And my birthday boy blowing out his candles.

Be sure to check back Tuesday for a birthday post for Dylan's real birthday!

T-Ball

Dylan is in an indoor t-ball league for 3-6 year olds. Today we had game 2!! They are pretty darn funny. At any point during the game you can find kids sitting in the outfield, running to their parents, picking up a base and moving it (that would only be my son that does that!!) and running anyway but the right way. I think Dylan enjoys it for the first 30-45 minutes, but then he gets bored and wants nothing to do with it.
Here he is on 1st base, so proud that he actually made it there. Batting is his strong area, but running the bases, not so much!! This one was during practice before the game!!

Here Dylan is up to bat. He was the last one, so he just got to run the bases, didn't have to stop and each one, which isn't a bad things!!

Dear...

Dear Disney World,

We had A LOT of fun when we came to visit. Dylan is still talking about Dumbo, Goofy, the airplane and sleeping in the hotel... but he is also still talking about the scary guys at the parade. I understand that there are a TON of people that are Star Wards fans, but not us. We didn't like this parade, and Dylan really didn't like it. We can't talk about our trip without the scary guys coming up.

We came to Disney to see sweet, nice characters, not ones like this

or this one, what in the heck is this anyway???And this one, "ubaca" as Dylan says, might have been the scariest of all.
actually, I think seeing families (small children included) dressed in full Star Wars costumes may have been scarier!! I guess I just don't get it, just like they don't get my Dr. Pepper need....which brings to my last problem with you...

next time I come to visit PLEASE have some Dr. Pepper for me. Somewhere. You have a bazillion gift shops, couldn't just one of them have some Dr. Pepper for people like me? I didn't like that my options on drinks were so limited. Don't get me wrong, I love water (more than Dr. Pepper actually) but a nice, cold Dr. Pepper would have been heavenly on those early morning and late nights. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks!!

Some good food!!

Sunday we had Seth's mom and dad over for a Father's Day Dinner. We also wanted to show them all the videos and pictures from Disney, so it worked out great! I made their favorite pasta dish and salad. I have made this several times when they have some over, and they always seem to love it, or they are just being polite!!!

I got this recipe from my dad, and I think he got it out of the paper. When he told me what was in it, I thought he was crazy. There is NO way it could taste good, but it does!!
Here are the ingredients...

Yes, that is taco seasoning and spaghetti sauce!!

I use...

1 1/2 pounds of ground beef

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 envelope of taco seasoning

shell pasta

8 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. chive and onion cream cheese

1 package of cheddar cheese

Cook the pasta and ground beef

While it is cooking, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together

Add the spaghetti sauce to the cooked and drained hamburger--mix together

Add 1/2 of the cream cheese mixture and mix together

Add the drained pasta and mix together

Pour into a casserole dish ans top with remaining cream cheese mixture, like below.

Add about 1/4 of the cheddar cheese on top and bake for 45 minutes or so on 400. Add the rest of cheddar cheese and bake a little longer, just to melt cheese!!

I don't have a picture of the finished product, I didn't want my mother-in-law to think I was nuts to take a picture of food!!

As the side, I made another one of her favorites, salad!! Not just any salad, salad with homemade Italian dressing. I got this recipe from the secretary at Quincy, and it is AMAZING!!

1 package of good seasons Italian dressing mix

1/2 cup oil

4 T water

2 T vinegar

1T honey

1T sunflower seeds

1T Parmesan cheese

mix all together and refrigerate

I serve it with spinach leaves, some mozzarella cheese, and croutons. Oh, so yummy!!!! This is the ONLY salad my husband will eat, it is that good!!

For dessert I made home made ice cream and Neapolitan cupcakes!!! Here they are all decorated, I suck at decorating cupcakes, so these aren't that great!!

Here is the inside of the cupcakes!! So cute, and pretty yummy too!

Anyway, I love cooking and reading and trying new recipes. Doing this, and for some reason deciding to document it and blog about it got me thinking...how cool would it be to do a cooking blog??? Ok, I am not as talented or have enough time to do this on my own but how cool would it be to get 7 women, and each one have a day of the week. On their day they would post a new recipe, craft, idea...it could be called something like...7 women...7 days. Oh, the things I cook up while Dylan is napping and Seth is mowing. They shouldn't leave me alone often, I think of way too many things!!!!!!!!! So, would you read a blog like that? Would you be a woman that would want a day each week to blog about something other woman would want to know about?

Some more Disney

On our last day we had a special lunch with Pooh and Friends. By this time Dylan wasn't scared of the characters at all! He would willingly give them hugs and pose for pictures!! This mat be one of my favorites from the trip. Dylan and Tigger!

I think little Miss Piglet had a little crush on Dylan! She sure stayed around for a long time, played peek a boo with him, gave him kisses...

Dylan and mommy driving the race car. I drove this time, thinking Dylan was too little to drive.
I guess I was wrong...

Yes, that is Dylan in the driver's seat! He drove. Daddy was brave enough to ride along!

Dylan and Daddy on the Buzz Light Year ride. It is a pretty cool ride, you use those guns to shoot a laser at different things.

Riding the rocket ships. We had to take an elevator up to this ride, so we were very high!

And another one of my favorites! I just love this guy more than anything in the world!!

Happy Father's Day

Hello, it's me, Dylan. Since I am going to be in preschool next year I told mom I needed some practice on the computer!! She said I could do a post about my daddy!!!


To Daddy,
Daddy, I think you are really great. I love you a whole lot. I like when you act like a monster and I hide under my covers. I like laying in your bed with you and watching cartoons. I think you are really funny when you try and scare me and mommy. When we go golfing and bowling it is really fun. I want to be just like you when I grow up. I want to be able to slam dunk all by myself, just like you can. Thank you for being the best daddy in the whole wide world. I am one lucky little boy!!
Love,
Dylan


Happy Father's Day Seth. Thank you for being a wonderful daddy to Dylan. He is so lucky to have someone like you. You are such a blessing to both of us.