on a roll

With the recent attempt to make healthier meals comes this Beef Barley Soup from Ina Garten. 

All I have to say is..... this very well may be the best soup I have ever had (let alone made). Those are beef oxtails you see in there. Along with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, leeks and beef broth. Nice. Serve with fresh rolls (PAPA JOE"S!!) and you are good to go!

Perfect meal for a cold winter's night!

And hmmmmm. how do I get the kids to eat the barley? You guessed it ;)

Now it seems the competition is on. When Kaitlyn and I got home from gymnastics tonight, Daddy had this waiting for her..

impressive, earings and all! 

They were pretty happy about it.

Face it, veggies are good for you!

In no way, shape, or form, can I take credit for this idea. I swiped it off a friend of a friend's blog. She has been making her kids "face plates" for meals consisting of otherwise boring and bland (but 100% healthy) foods. I am just coming off a 5 day detox in which I lived on a nice, daily concoction of water, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. I know. The cayenne pepper throws you for a loop...The detox is supposed to rid your body of toxins and remind it that natural, whole foods are the best fuel. 

Anyway, my new self is on a mission (attempt)  to provide healthier meals for the family. I have been pouring through food blogs, getting lost in blog after blog about food. I can't believe what I have been missing out on! 

Hence, the face plate. I was skeptical, but why not give it a try? I used spinach for the hair, a scoop of brown rice for the nose, tomatoes for the eyes, and raspberrys for the mouth. 

They thought they had gone to heaven. Kaitlyn laughed out loud and DEVOURED the plate! (okay, a tablespoon of ranch helped with the hair). Needless to say, I am quite proud of myself! The face plate creations are limitless now - I have so many ideas running through my head! Thanks to Danielle for this awesome idea!!!!!!!!!!

What did you say that was again???

A day in the life..

Is it just me or is winter getting OLD??! We are struggling to keep entertained around here. Being cooped up in the house is brutal. On this day, I followed them around with the camera, trying to catch the sweetness of these two sisters spending time together.

 Kaitlyn controlling the lighting while McKenna dances..

 jumping into daddy's arms = not safe but oh so fun!

 McKenna LOVES. THIS. GAME.

 they decided to have a sleepover next.

 what are you, papparazzi?

 quick, hide your face!

 loungin'

Random pics from my phone!

Kaitlyn had her first visit to the dentist a few weeks ago. She LOVED it! The office was awesome and she can't wait to go back. They even took a picture of her first vist :)

This week marks the anniversary of the night we got engaged. January 18, 2003. Awww to be so young again, lol!

McKenna and I had the play area to ourselves at the mall last week - awesome!!!

One more from Christmas Eve at the Peters!

Messing around in McKenna's room!

McKenna and her snowman!

Well here we are enduring another Michigan winter. Thankfully we have lots of new things to keep us busy and entertained :) Here are McKenna and I messing around last week.

Aunt Kathy brought over a Melissa and Doug snowman stacker which both the girls have been obsessed with!!!!!! So fun!!!!!!!

...and just for fun, here is Kaitlyn at 17 months, just where McKenna is now. You can see both their personalities shining through :) xoxoxo !

Ellie and MJ - 5 already!!!

I can't believe the twins are 5!!!!!! Where is the time going?! Jim took Kaitlyn to their party at pump-it-up. You can never go wrong with a bounce house party!!!!

The Birthday Boy!

 Ellie and Kaitlyn enjoying the slides!

 All the attendees. Wow!

 Cake time!!!

What!? How cute are these cakes!!!

Happy Birthday guys!!!