Cheesy Bacon Potato Rounds

I saw this recipe on Pinterest and was dying to try it.  I'm a sucker for a good potato skin, but they're not the healthiest. Now while this recipe wouldn't fall under the healthy column, I will say it is much better than the deep fried version.

They're super simple to make. First take a potato, wash it well and slice it to about 1/8 inch thick.  Spray each side with cooking spray and pop into an oven set to 400* for about 10 minutes.  Flip over, add some salt, and cook for another 10 minutes.  This will give you soft centers with crisp edges.  If you want the whole potato crispy, cook longer, about 40 minutes total. 

Once cooked, take out of oven and sprinkle a little cheddar cheese and crumbled bacon on each round and pop back in the oven until all melty.

 I served mine up with some thin sliced chicken breast and the hubs seriously ate like 10 rounds. 

I showed some restraint, I only ate five.

Yum!

Month Four Must Haves

This month Grayson has been starting to actually PLAY with things. He wants to figure them out, he wants to see how they work and he wants to interact with them. I absolutely love it, because hes getting to be so independent and fun but it breaks my heart to see him grow up so quick.  My guess is that every momma and daddy out there knows this feeling all to darn well.

This month our favorite things are

 Fisher Price Luv U Zoo Jumparoo

He wasn't too sure of it at first, but he loves it now.  He realizes that he has to jump to get the music to keep playing and he really goes to town on this sucker.  Park him in this in front of the TV and I'm guaranteed about 30 minutes of un-interrupted time.  He was a little short at first, so we just stuck a Vera Bradley box under his feet and it works just fine.

Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Orchestra Toy

Our neighbors bought Grayson this for Christmas and he is obsessed. If you press the large red button, then all of the instruments will play but you can hit each instrument individually then add others in.  Grayson loves hitting each light and watching the turtle make music.  He babbles away and presses buttons and its the cutest darn thing. 

The Bumbo

At first Grayson wasn't too thrilled with this, until he realized that when sitting in it he is at eye level with Mom and Dad.  Now, he loves it. He sits in it all the time and couldn't be happier, especially when Mom and Dad are eating and hes on the kitchen table between us. We also take it to restaurants and don't have to worry about him falling out of a high chair.

Vtech Peek At Me Bunny

Peek a Boo is our new favorite game, and this bunny is our favorite person to play with. If you cover his eyes with his ears, then uncover the bunny says "Peek A Boo!"  Grayson laughs every single time. He also lights up and sings songs and talks, and our teething little man has decided that this bunny's nose is one of the best things to chew on.

My Pal Scout

This has got to be one of my favorite toys. You plug Scout into your computer and after about 5 minutes he knows your kiddos name, favorite color, songs, food and animal.  When Grayson squeezes his paw and he starts to sing the Grayson song, he gets this look of wonder like "Hey, this puppy knows my name!"  It has tons of games, songs and features and is totally adorable. Oh and whenever he barks it scares the beans out of our two real dogs, which I have to admit is pretty darn funny.

Thats it for this month.  Now that both Grammys know we like toys, more and more have started to appear at our house- so Im sure Ill have a whole new crop next month. 

Snow Day!

We woke up this morning to 5 inches of fluffy white stuff.  Now, Im a little peeved that Mother Nature couldn't do this on a school day but I'm okay with it as long as I don't have to drive in it. 

After breakfast we bundled up little man and took him outside for his first snow experience.

He LOVED the snowsuit. My child is the kid who hates to be cold, so he was in his glory.  

Not too sure of it until we laid him on his back and let him wriggle in the snow.

Then, he LOVED it. 

Little baby snow butt print- oh how I melt!

If its cold and snowy where you are, hope you are enjoying your snow day!



Quick Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I love soup. It just makes me happy.

What I don't like is it taking for-ev-a to make. I also am not a fan of the crappy stuff from a can after learning this delish recipe.

(Adapted from Rachel Ray)

Ingredients

2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

2 bay leaves, fresh or dried

Salt and pepper

2 quarts of chicken stock

1 pound chicken breast tenders

1/2 package of egg noodles

Directions

Place a large pot over moderate heat and add 1 quart of chicken stock.  Add chicken tenders and cook covered for 8 minutes.  While chicken is cooking, chop veggies. Remove chicken from pot and toss in the kitchen aid mixer to shred. (Use the paddle attachment, put it up to 5 or 6 and shreds it perfectly!) Add the veggies, 2nd quart of stock and bay leaves to pot and cook for about 7 minutes before adding the egg noodles. Cook for another 7- 8 minutes or until noodles are tender.  Add chicken back in to heat through and season with salt and pepper to taste.  If soup is too thick add up to two cups of water to thin out. 

So good and so quick- perfect for a cold weeknight. I make mine with a side of Cheddar Bacon Bay Biscuits- since they only take 10 minutes they're the perfect side. Yum!

Wordless Wednesday

 My boys watching the Steelers lose on Sunday

 Niether one would look away from the TV for a picture.

 Naps on Mommy = L.O.V.E.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Hubs is working nights this week- we've seen each other a total of about 1.5 hours each day since Monday. I keep telling myself its only a week, but truth be told it sucks. It sucks and I am tired, y'all.

I don't know how single parents do it- or the parents who work opposite shifts.

It doesn't help that I'm already a light sleeper now that Grayson has decided its super fun to roll over in his crib at night. Only problem is he wakes up when he does it.  If you catch him quick enough he will go back to sleep, so I have the monitor cranked up so loud I swear I can hear him stretch.  That combined with two dogs who NEVER bark suddenly going spastic when a dust bunny hops makes for little sleep for this girl.

Seriously, we could go to Hawaii with the bags under my eyes.

Yesterday was also my 27th birthday.

I thought it was going to be a pretty miserable day, but its amazing how people make you feel loved.

My Momma surprised me with a waffle with a candle in it and a new pair of Coach dress shoes in the morning. My kiddos brought me cards, a crown and each class serenaded me with a loud rocking version of Happy Birthday (my ears were bleeding- even the principals came in to sing along).  My favorite co-workers and best friends got me a cake (which may or may not have been my birthday dinner) and a Macy's gift card. The hubs bought me a tons of presents and Grayson boy gave me a card and these babies.

The Elsa Peretti Bean Earrings from Tiffany's.

That's right, my baby Bean bought me beans.

I sure do love that kid. And the Dad he has that paid for these babies.

So turning 27 wasn't as bad as I thought- and I still get to celebrate with friends this weekend.

But please, no more singing....my ears still hurt.



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