Joining forces - Yummy Appetizer Recipe!

Last year I started another blog for moms...it was meant for us to fill with favorite recipes, favorite kid books, favorite deals at Baby Gap...you get the idea. Well, let's just say, that blog didn't really "take-off," so now, I'm joining forces...that blog with this blog. So, whether you like it or not, instead just cute pictures and stories of my kids, I'm going to try and add some other things here as well. AND, please, please, please, feel free to leave comments and add your own favs. as well! (that's what I was trying to do w/ the other blog, which didn't really work...we'll see if my readers here will do as I ask! :O)

So, to start things off I wanted to share a recipe I tried last night for the first time. And, let's just say, there was hardly a morsel left on the plate! It's a must for a summer BBQ party! (or winter gathering in your home!)

I found it in the Kraft Food and Family Magazine and it was super easy (like most recipes in their mag)! Thanks Kraft!

Click on the recipe title below to find the recipe on their site (you can print it there or here):

Warm Italiano Spread

1 pkg. Philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese (I'm guessing regular cream cheese would work equally as well)

1/4 cup pesto

1 plum tomato, chopped

1/4 cup Kraft Finely Shredded Italian Five Cheese Blend

Triscuit Crackers (or other...)

Heat grill to medium heat. Place unwrapped Neufchatel cheese on 8-inch square sheet of heavy-duty foil; top with pesto, tomatoes and shredded cheese.

Place foil on grill; cover with lid. Grill 8 to 10 minutes or until shredded cheese is melted and Neufchatel cheese is softened but still holding its shape.

Transfer foil to platter. Serve spread with crackers.

How to prepare in your oven: Prepare as directed above - bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 14 min. or until shredded cheese in melted and Neufchatel cheese is softened but still holding its shape.

***Note from me: I set the timer for 8 min. to grill it and it was really melted...maybe check it at 5 or 6 and you'll be good to go! (it was still delicious, but softer than it was probably supposed to turn out.)

Birthday Party #2 - Morton Arboretum

We spent a wonderful afternoon celebrating Sam's birthday last Saturday with Brian's family and our great friends The Glavach's. We met at the Arboretum for a picnic lunch and play time. And, after a strong debate that morning if we should move the party inside, we were so thankful that we stuck with the plan and got to enjoy the gorgeous day!

Birthday Boy!

YUMMY! More monkey cupcakes!

Kiddos enjoying lunch!

Sammy showing off his new swim trunks!

On to play time!

Sammy enjoyed the fun from the stroller.

The tadpoles are out and the kids just couldn't wait to check them out.

Heidi and Jeremy walk out to see what it's all about.

Yes, the little black things are ALL tadpoles...there had to be thousands of them!

The water was just too tempting for Jackson!

Jake and Ellie

Best Buds Hannah and Peter inspecting the tadpoles.

All partied out! I had to sing and clap as loud as I could to keep

Sam and Ellie awake on the way home! I'm proud to say, I did it! :O)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMMY!

I can hardly believe that our little Sammy boy is 1 year old already! Brian and I feel so blessed by this little boy. He is a true joy and we just love watching him grow each day!

Yesterday was his big day and let me tell you, we threw him the best 1 year old party a family could throw! Okay, I'm totally kidding, but we did go out for dinner to Hannah's favorite restaurant and therefore, Sam's favorite restaurant, Red Robin. :O) After dinner, we came home and gave Sammy our gifts (sadly, I didn't even wrap them, isn't that terrible?!) and what do you give a sweet little boy living in the Chicago area? A Cubs shirt and hat, of course!

Sam's first party was last weekend when we were in MI last weekend for Mother's Day and celebrated Sam's birthday with my family there.

For some reason, I'm a little obsessed with monkeys right now (maybe b/c our little man IS a monkey!) and found the instructions to make these adorable cupcakes online. They were really a piece of cake to make, literally! hee, hee, hee! ;O)

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Stripped down and ready to attack his treat!

Mmmmmmmm, this is SO GOOD! How much can I fit in???

I love this look...like he's looking around wondering if he's going to get caught for something he shouldn't be doing. :o)

Stay tuned for more birthday fun...we'll be celebrating Sam's with Brian's family on Saturday!

Mother's Day and Tulips

We were lucky (just ask Brian!) enough to see the wonderful Dutch Dancers perform last Friday night in Holland, MI and the kids just loved it! (well, maybe the girls, more than Luke :O) We enjoyed our evening and even convinced the kids to pose for a few pictures. Thanks kiddos! 

Back at Grandma and Papa's, the kids had a blast playing together. Hannah, Ellie and Taylor are sporting their matching pig-tails! 

Great Grammy Smith came on Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day and Sam's birthday with us. She was so sweet and you could see the love in her eye's when she saw the kids that day. 

Sammy loved sitting by her, making sure to check her out from every angle! :O)

The kids with Grandma and Great Grandma on Mother's Day.

We love you moms and grandmas!

Pretty Pretty

Last Friday the kids and I stopped at a few garage sales on the hunt for a wagon and instead, came home with a new play vanity! For $5, I got this cute little thing and the girls just love it. Of course they had to have Sammy in the "customer" chair right away! Oh my, he has no idea what he's in for w/ these two girls! 

All dressed up for spring!

Since I failed to get pictures of the kids all dressed up for Easter, I thought I'd have a little photo shoot a couple of weeks ago after church. I LOVE Spring and have been so happy about the warmer temps and brighter days!

Lovely sisters

Hannah - age 5 years 5 months

*she just lost her 2nd tooth last weekend!!

Ellie - age 2 years 8 months

*we are just marveling at her expanded vocabulary lately..she's such a sweet little girl

Sam - age 11 months and 24 days

*He's a proud 'almost' walker!! He'll take 4 or 5 steps!

Look how excited he is!

Our little blessings

Unfortunately when we tried to take a family shot using the timer on the camera, Sammy didn't quite figure it all out...no matter how many times I said, "Sam look at the camera!" I wonder why that didn't work?! :O)

After pictures, Hannah decided it was time to let her butterflies go free. I thought she'd be hesitant about it...missing them, but she wasn't at all. She thought it was great to watch them fly out in to their new home. Ellie liked it too. :O)