Friday Five

1. Lately Cooper wants to hang out with Casen in his bed.  They sit there and play.  Casen just laughs and laughs.  He thinks his brother is the best.  I walked in to this and Cooper said they were cuddling. PRECIOUS!

2. My baby is moving up to room 2 at day-care! They are letting him spend a little time each afternoon there and they said he loves it.  He officially moves March 10th.  And he is sooo close to crawling but just not there yet.

3. Cooper loves Big Bang Theory.  Kyle and I love it and if we tell him he can't watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse then he asks to watch Big Bang.  It isn't really appropriate for him, but it completely holds his attention and it cracks us up how much he likes the characters.  The other day he said 'I like Sheldon and Leonard.'  I asked about Penny and he said 'oh yeah! I like Penny'

4.This adorable boy of mine is making big strides in potty training.  (I hope this doesn't jinx it).  We had been struggling with #2 for a while now, but it finally seems to be clicking.  We are in the homestretch I think.

He is leaning like that because he wanted to sit on the table at school. I, of course, said no.

5.  Today and tomorrow are supposed to be beautiful outside and I can't wait!  I am going to go walking during lunch and we are hoping to have a picnic in the park tomorrow!

Happy Friday!

*don't forget to check out my review and giveaway from yesterday.

Hormel REV Meat Snack Mix

I was recently contacted about doing a product reveiew for a new product from Hormel.  Honestly I was so excited because I have never been contacted to do a review.  I was chosen because this product is being tested in the DFW area and I am a DFW blogger.  After I agreed they sent me a box of their yummy snacks.

I told my family about doing this review and they all wanted to take part with me so I took it with me to my mom's house and we tried them out.

The product they sent me are the Hormel REV Meat Snack Mixes.  They are an on-the-go snack that has between 8 and 12 grams of protein per serving.

There are 5 flavors available and I was given these three to try.

First up was Turkey Ranch. It has cracked pepper pita chips, ranch seasoned breadsticks, and smoked turkey.  This one had a great flavor but we were all surprised by the turkey. It was like a crispy piece of turkey bacon.  It wasn't soft like I expected.

Turkey Ranch was the overall favorite.  Kyle said he would buy it in the store.

Next up was Spicy BBQ & Bacon which includes BBQ seasoned bagel chips, sourdough pretzels, and jalapeno bacon.

This picture is orangey looking but you can see all of the goodies.  I really liked the pretzels in this one however, in general I don't like bbq flavored chips and things.  It had a zesty kick at the end that was good.  My family likes spicy things.

And the last one we tried was Pepperoni Pizza.  It has cheese crackers and parmesan, tomato herb bagel chips, and pepperoni.

I loved this combo.  This was probably my personal favorite.  The pepperoni is soft in this one unlike the turkey. I let Cooper have some of this last night and he gobbled it down and then asked for more!

My sister's advice was that each of these tasted best when you just throw a handful in your mouth instead of trying each piece.  I am one that likes to eat each thing seperate.  I followed her suggestion and she was right.  All three were good.

In addition to the three flavors we tried there is Pepperoni & Cheese and Honey Mustard Bacon.

If you are interested in trying these you have two options.  

You can visit one of the Kroger locations at the bottom of my blog that are currently carrying these snack mixes. 

And you can enter the giveaway below for a chance to win all three flavors that we tried.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Locations
6650 N Beach St, 76167
5330 S Cooper St, 76017
3001 Matlock Rd, 76063
7201 Boulevard 26, 76180
4017 14th St, 75074
2061 Rufe Snow Dr, 76248
2671 Little Elm Pkwy, 75068
1212 E Bethany Dr, 75002
12600 N Beach St, 76244
5021 Teasley Ln, 76210
1210 N Greenville Ave, 75002
3300 E Broad St, 76063
3939 Frankford Rd, 75287
2109 Harwood Rd, 76021
5190 Highway 78, 75048
7100 Independence Pkwy, 75025
9700 Coit Rd, 75025
313 E Pioneer Pkwy, 75051
515 S Macarthur Blvd, 75060

"In the spirit of full-disclosure, I’ve partnered with Hormel Foods as part of the HORMEL™ REV™ Meat Snack Mix Program. For my participation, I’ll receive product and merchandise, but no payment was given or expected for posting about the program, and as always, all opinions given here are fully my own.

Weekend Recap

The weather has been amazing here lately though it actually got cold again starting yesterday.

Last week I took the boys on a wagon ride.

I have to include 3 pictures because they never both look good in one picture.

Last Thursday I put the boys in their matching pjs. LOVE!!

Cooper taking some selfies.

Saturday Kyle was helping his brother move so the boys and I ran some errands.  A Party City opened near us so we started scoping this out for birthday parties.  They will be here before we know it!

Sunday we went to the local children's museum with Aiden and Tiffany.  The boys had a great time.  There were a couple of tantrums and some trouble listening but that was because it was nap time (they don't open until 12 on Sundays.

It was a crazy weekend.  There were some wonderful highs and some frustrating lows. 

I woke up this morning confused that it was only Tuesday...I have a feeling it is going to be a long week.

Casen's First Haircut

Friday evening Aunt Jen Jen gave Casen his first haircut. He was very wiggly but overall did good.

I LOVE this picture of him.  So sweet.

 

She did the perfect little trim. Definitely not short looks a lot better.

Uncle Tyler said he has a frat boy haircut

I am not ready for a big boy haircut yet.

Friday Five

1. If I had a gift card to Nordstrom I would buy these.  I would never spend that much on shoes normally but darn those are cute!

2. I am obsessed with my boys in holiday clothes.  I ordered Cooper a St Patrick's day shirt but didn't have it personalized so that Casen can wear it.  Now that V-day is over I pulled out Cooper's hand me downs and he had 5 St. Patrick's day shirts!  Actually he had 4 and someone gave me the 5th one since Cooper.  I was so excited that Casen wore a St. P day shirt yesterday and today.  I wish I took pictures. 

So if you are wondering what to get my kids. Any holiday clothes.  I especially like holiday jammies.  I have seen some on Facebook that are embroidered or appliqued by someone but they charge $30-35 and I just can't justify that.  I wish it was easier to find cute pajamas for holidays besides Christmas.

3.  When pulling out some spring clothes for Casen I also saw Rangers gear!  I am so excited!!  The team is going to be very different this year, but I still love baseball...and baseball pants! (for you Emily!) 

4. Jennifer Aniston is notorious for a plain shirt, jeans, and a belt. And she rocks it.  I channeled her yesterday and loved it.  I should have taken a picture.  I don't normally wear a belt, but I might do it more often now. 

5. I LOVE this headboard for Cooper's room.  I am going to try to convince Kyle or his dad to make this. It doesn't look to hard.


Sorry now pictures but click on the links to see what I am talking about.  Happy Friday!

Snow day

Two weeks ago I mentioned how it was snowing.  Well that day day-care closed early and so we took Cooper's BFF, Aiden home with us for a little while until his mom could get him.

Kyle and I met at our house and put Cooper's two car seats into his truck along with Casen's base on the far left.  I joked 'see we can fit 3 car seats in here'.

Kyle was worried Aiden wouldn't want to go home with us and then what would be do. Ha!  He was so excited and went straight to get his coat.  In fact we had to be careful a couple of other kids didn't come home with us too.

They were so excited and talked the whole way home.

They had a great time playing with all of Cooper's toys. In fact, Cooper played with some toys that I think he forgot he had.

Sweet baby brother watching the boys play.  Before we know it he will be begging them to play too.

The boys had such a great time and I think every day since Aiden has asked to go home with Kyle when he picks up the boys.

I know I have said it multiple times but I just love Cooper and Aiden's friendship.  It is just so sweet.  In fact at one point Aiden went up to Cooper and said 'Cooper's my best friend.'

8 months

It is time for another update!!

You are 8 months old already and I can't believe how fast it is going by. 

You weigh 17.36 lbs according to the doctor last week.

Size 3 diapers

6-9 and 9 month clothes. Some 6 month pants still.

You have the same nursing schedule as last month.

You continue to do very well with baby food.  There isn't anything you don't like and you haven't had a bad reaction to anything.  You even eat green beans unlike your brother.

Your brother never ate the baby food meats and I don't blame him.  They smell so bad that we didn't try very hard with him.  However this time we received about 40 free jars of the meats so I have tried harder.  We mix half a jar of meat with half a jar of veggie and you seem to like them like anything else.

We have given you a lot of different table foods lately and you really enjoy them.  You are very good at picking the food up yourself. 

You like puffs, mum mums, baby crunchies (like cheetos), noodles, rice, bread, mashed potatoes, avocado, banana.

We give you very small bites of the firmer things because you don't have teeth yet.

We also started giving you water in a sippy cup this month and you like that.  You haven't mastered it but you do pretty well. 

This month we let you sit in a high chair for the first time at a restaurant.  You loved it and looked so big.  The only downside it you try to pull everything to you which can be messy if we aren't careful.

You have now learned to reach up or flap your arms when we reach to hold you.  If I say 'up?' you reach for me.

The week before you turned 8 months I was blowing kisses at you while Daddy held you.  You put your hand to your mouth like you were blowing kisses back.  You did it 3 times that day but haven't done it since.

You haven't started waving yet.

This month you got a HORRIBLE diaper rash.  You but got so red and even had some bleeding.  Aunt Lusa gave us something that helped heal it quickly, but I still think you have some scarring or discoloration on your hiney from the diaper rash.  I hadn't ever seen diaper rash that bad.

You really love bath time now.  You and Cooper take a bath together every other day and you think Cooper is great.  You smile and laugh the entire time.

You learned to put your pacifier in your mouth regularly now.

You also sat in the grocery cart like a big boy this month.

A new skill you have mastered is turning off the light.   I tap at the light switch and you swat at it and turn it off.

You have also learned to push closed your closet door by holding the knob.  We keep your burp cloths in there and after I get one and I let you close the door.

Speaking of burp cloths....you still spit up a lot.  I was hoping you would have outgrown it by now, but no such luck.  Some days are worse than others. 

You have learned to bang two toys together.

And everything you find goes to your mouth.

You are working on crawling.  You put your butt in the air like an upside down 'V. And you use your arms to push up and look around. (see pics from 7 month post).

You have figured out how to go backwards but not forwards and you can get very frustrated by this. 

When in a sitting position you turn around in circles to see what everyone is doing.  And you are working hard at transitioning from sitting to the floor.

Right before you turned 8 months we got your sleep habits back on track.  You had gotten to wear you woke up once a night needing your pacifier.  You are back to sleeping all night and that makes Mommy and Daddy happy.

You LOVE Ranger and Riley.  You think they are so funny.  They love to sit close to you which probably isn't a great idea because you love to pull their hair. But they don't seem to mind and just sit until you let go.  We have to make sure they don't lick your hands and clean you up because that is just gross.

You still have a little temper but now that you can sit up you are such a sweet happy baby.  You love to look around at everyone.  And you are much better about playing by yourself now.  You will sit occupied with toys while we make dinner. 

And of course putting you in the high chair with some snacks is another way to keep you happy

You have such gorgeous blue eyes like your brother.  And between your eyes and your smile you melt every one's hearts.  You hair has gotten pretty long so I am contemplating a haircut soon, but I feel like it is too soon. I am not sure if I am ready for that milestone yet.

You haven't said your first word yet.  Compared to Cooper you aren't very vocal, but that's okay.  I know you will find your words eventually and then you may never stop.  Or you might be our quiet one.

Casen Andrew, you are such an amazing blessing to our family.  You are an absolute sweetheart.  We love you so much and are truly enjoying seeing you grow and learn.

Casen's 7 month post  and Cooper's 8 month post

*I took these pictures a week ago but with my crazy week last week I am just now filling in all of the details and getting it posted.