This is it ...

Our last weekend in the only home John and I have ever really had in the six years we've been married.  And, definitely the only home our children have ever known.  We moved in here when I was about seven weeks pregnant with Jacob.  I can remember that because moving day just so happened to be the first day my morning sickness showed up.  :)  We celebrated five wedding anniversaries here and countless birthdays.  Both of our children learned to walk right here in our living room.  They both learned to go up and down steps here.  Jacob learned to count to ten by walking up and down the stairs outside our condo (we live on the 3rd and 4th floor of the building) and counting the steps as we went.  It's safe to say we've made our fair share of memories here.

I can't believe this time is finally coming.  For some many months (actually a couple of years) I've been saying we need to move, to find some place bigger for our growing family, and now we have.  I can't wait to make new memories in our new townhouse.  To watch our children run around and play in the backyard.  To have friends over because we actually have the room (I love to entertain!).  To have family come stay with us because we finally have the room for extra bodies in the house.  And, to make this house a home.  :)

A little update on what we've been doing IN the new place .... Jacob's room was the first that I really wanted to get painted.  One wall was a really dark navy blue and there was boat border all around the room.  We took it down and started painting today.  It was supposed to be a light yellow, but seems to be a bit brighter than I what I had wanted.  I hope and pray it looks food with his bedding and fire truck decorations.  I think the yellow will help the fire trucks POP, or at least I hope it does.  Henry's room will be the next to get a makeover.  We were going to leave his room alone for now because it's in decent shape, but because we have to buy more paint to finish Jacob's room and I don't want to waste it, we're going to do Henry's room in the same color.  I *think* it'll look okay with his bedding, or at least I hope it does.  *fingers crossed* Tomorrow we'll go back and do the second coat of paint in Jacob's room, and then tape Henry's and get started on it.  I think Henry's is only going to take one coat as all his walls are an off white color right now.  We've decided to wait on the rest of the house and just do a room every few weeks/months until we get the whole house done.  I'm excited to finally be able to paint and decorate a HOUSE the way *I* want!

Stay tuned for before and after pictures to come in the near future.

Raising Boys!

I've been looking around for a cute poem that describes the relationship between a mother and her little boy(s) when I came upon this one - it says it all!

For Jacob and Henry ... my love, my life

Raising Boys
by: Roberta I. Teague

I scrub the wall of fingerprints,

Pick up the mounds of clothes.

I sweep the dirt that shoes track in-

Wish I could use a hose!

Meals are served from dawn to dark,

Dirty dishes crowd the sink.

Just when they're washed and put away-

Everyone wants a drink!

The washer pulls the dirty grime

From pants worn thin and patched.

They look so very neat and clean-

Yuck, look what the pockets hatched!

Broken bones and bloody knees,

I should have been a nurse.

I take it all in shaky stride-

Just grateful it's not worse!

Screams and shouts and arguments

Test the keeping of my cool.

They left the neighbor's faucet on-

See their new front yard pool!

A soothing bath is ecstasy,

A reward at the end of my rope.

Raising boys isn't really bad-

But first I must wash the soap!

A rose can say I Love You,

Orchids can enthrall;

But a week bouquet in a chubby fist,

Oh my, that says it all!

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

We looooove Chinese food in this house.  Love, love, love!  When I came across this recipe on pinterest awhile back, I just knew we would be trying it.  Much to my pleasure it was pretty easy to make and soooo yummy!  It honestly tastes like the real-deal Chinese restaurant Sweet and Sour Chicken.  I promise, you won't be disappointed with this one!

The original recipe came from Six Sister's Stuff blog.  There are a few more from their site that I've pinned on pinterest and can't wait to try! (Have I mentioned before how much I loooove pinterest?! lol)

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

Chicken:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup corn starch

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup canola oil

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

3/4 cup sugar

4 tbsp ketchup

1/2 cup vinegar

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp garlic salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  

Rinse your chicken breasts in cold water and then cut into cubes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Dip chicken into cornstarch to coat and then dip into the eggs.  

Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook your chicken until browned, but not cooked through.  (At this point, you will totally have that yummy Chinese restaurant chicken smell in your kitchen, minus the sweet and sour sauce, of course)

Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish.

Mix all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl with a whisk and then pour evenly over the chicken.

(Note: The sweet and sour sauce will be very runny at first.  Fret not, it will thicken up the longer it cooks!)

Bake for one hour.  During the baking process, you will need to turn the chicken every 15 minutes.

ENJOY!!