27!! and 3 months! (and the recipes)

My goodness this blog has been a long time coming! Everyone is probably wondering what the heck is going on. It was busy Monday with Cory's birthday and Hayden's pictures and then Tuesday was crazy, I had a doctors appointment and it just seems I have been going, going, going. And now Cory is super sick with a fever, stuffy nose, a cough and sneezes.. its yucky stuff. So it's just been me and Hayd fending for ourselves and attempting not to catch whatever nastiness daddy has. I am pooped!! I really appreciate Cory and the little break he gives me when he comes home. It also really makes me appreciate my family who offer to hold Hayden when I can't stand and bounce him or sing one more ABC or the wheels on the bus song one more time. I have best husband and the best, most supportive family. I seriously underestimated post partum. It's kicking my butt to say the least. I had no idea what an up roar my horomones would be in and how long it would get me to feeling "normal," physically and emotionally. Thank goodness I am on the upward swing of things finally, I think. I am so glad I have a sweet little boy's smiling face that looks at me everyday and great people around me who are always there to help me and talk to me when I can't do one way conversations anymore. Thank you to everyone! You know who you are! I love you to death!

ok... and the point of the post... finally...

Cory turned 27 on Monday!! It was so much fun being able to have him home and have him come with me to Hayden's 3 month pictures. He is such a good daddy; he got the biggest smiles out of Hayd. After successful afternoon of taking pictures we went home so I could get started on dinner. I made his favorite pretzel jello, million dollar spaghetti (both recipes will be at the very bottom) and his all time favorite cake, funfetti cake with rainbow chip frosting. For his birthday I made him a basket of all his favorite things. It was fun being able to see the surprise on his face. Cory is such a good guy and I am so lucky that he is my husband. He always can make me laugh, and always puts me and Hayden first. He is so selfless and really cares about people. He is always there for me when I need someone to lean on and is such a huge example to me. I love you Cory! I hope you had a fun day!




These are the pictures we got from Hayden's little photo shoot. Thank you so so much to AHM Photography! Marietta did such a great job! I was so impressed. She was so flexible with us, we were able to go and work around Hayden's schedule. She was so patient when he needed to rest or eat or just take a break from pictures. It definately helped my stress level.

Im exhausted after all these pictures and being so cute!

YAWN!!!

THE RECIPES:
Strawberry Pretzel Squares(SOOOO YUMMY)
What you need:
2 C. finely crushed pretzels
1 Cup and 2 Tbsp. sugar, divided
2/3 Cup Butter, melted
1 and 1/2 pkg (8 0z each) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Softened(I only used one pkg and it was still yummy and I use the 1/3 less fat cream cheese)
1- 8 oz tub of Cool Whip
1 pkg. (6 oz) Jello Strawberry Flavor
1 qt. (4 Cups) Strawberries, Sliced

HEAT oven to 350 F

MIX pretzel crumbs, 2 T of sugar and butter. Press onto bottom of a 13x9 inch pan. Bake 10 min. Cool.

BEAT cream cheese, and 1 C. sugar. Stir in Cool Whip and then spread over crust. Refrigerate.

MAKE the jello according to the box(I even did the speed method) and refrigerate until thickened. Stir in strawberries; spoon over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.
*I have also used raspberry jello and 2 pkgs of 10 oz frozen raspberries. I would assume you could do the same with orange jello and mandrain oranges.

Million Dollar Spaghetti
What You Need:
1 lb of ground beef
2-8oz cans tomato sauce
9 or 10 oz of thin spaghetti (I just usually use almost the whole pkg or all of it depending on how many Im feeding)
1/2 lb cottage cheese
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 Cup sour cream
1/2 Cup green onion

HEAT oven to 350 F

COOK spaghetti noodles in boiling water while,

BROWNING the hamburger meat. After the hamburger meat is browned, drain the fat and add the 2 cans of tomato sauce.

MIX cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream and green onion(mix well!)

LAYER in a 13x9 pan, half the spaghetti, then the cheese mixture, then remaining spaghetti and then the meat on top. Put in the oven for 15-20 min. or until its heated through.