What's for dinner?

I ask myself this question daily.  While I was waiting in my OB office I came across this recipe in Parents magazine.  It's crock pot lasagna and is SUPER EASY, and YUMMY!  We love Italian, especially Lasagna or any pasta dish, and this one has become one of my staples because it's quick(and healthy!)  It can be made ahead, and will be done in a jiffy!  Again, you could add extra(or any for that matter)veggies, meat, anything that would cater to your liking.  Enjoy!

Crock Pot Lasagna

Nonstick cooking spray
1 26-oz. jar pasta sauce
3/4 cup water
1 15-oz. carton light ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded carrot
6 lasagna noodles
1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz.)

1. Coat a 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In a large microwave-safe bowl stir together pasta sauce and water. Cover bowl with waxed paper and microwave on high for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl stir together ricotta cheese and carrot; set aside.

2. Spoon 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture in the bottom of prepared slow cooker. Break half of the noodles to fit the bottom of the slow cooker and arrange over the sauce in the slow cooker. Spoon mounds of half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the layers. Top with remaining noodles, breaking to fit, remaining ricotta mixture, and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon remaining sauce over and top with remaining mozzarella.

3. Cover; cook on low heat setting for 3 hours (noodles should be tender). Remove crock pot from liner and let stand covered for 20 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

A night of Superhero fun!

Herzogs & Lofstedts

There's no way around hiding this baby bump anymore

1st grade mama's, these women are wOnDeRfUl!

Wonder woman & Robin(ps~that is all my hair, no bumpit!)

Shane's parents, The Daley's, Herzogs, & Lofstedts

Auction Chairs

Mr. Banks our principal dressed as Mr. Incredible.  He's such an awesome principal!

St. Thomas More had their 32nd Annual Italian Dinner & Auction.  This year's theme was Superhero, which made it really comical/fun!  You can see it in my "high" hair, makeup, and robin costume.  I had a blast getting dressed up for it.  Shane was just fine with a spiderman t shirt. 

It just so happened that this year most of the auction chairs were 1st grade mama's.  I was on the decorating committee and got to help with centerpieces for the tables, and helped decorate for the auction festivities.  It was a great way for me to get to know more STM families.  The Italian dinner was nothing other than DeLiCiOuS!  Homemade meatballs(okay, I didn't actually eat those,) yummy penne pasta with homemade marinara, salad with homemade Italian dressing, rolls, dessert, drinks.  I helped myself to several plates ;)  I love food so much right now!

There was a silent and live auction.  I learned quite a few things about the silent and live auction and will feel more prepared next year.  All in all, it was a fun filled night spent with family & friends.  I couldn't ask for a better community, school, principal, and the fellowship that has followed.  I feel so blessed that our kids can be a part of STM.  *My favorite elementary years were spent there as a child.  I'm looking forward to next years Italian dinner & auction(and am curious what theme will be next?)

Baby Bliss!

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5
After a ton of prayer, faith, healing, support, and love...I am beyond thankful to announce that we will be adding another Lofstedt to our nest.  I've got a continually growing pregnant belly to prove it =)  And from what my OB says, I am measuring "large."  Just what I wanted to hear! Although maybe I am not that surprised since lately I feel like I've been eating for a possible linebacker ;)

I can't wait to kiss, snuggle,  smell, nurse and hold this baby sometime in July!  I thank Jesus everyday for giving me another chance to be a mama.

Here are a few belly shots(my tummy is a little battered and bruised do to the Lovenox injections.)  Olivia took a couple so they are angled kind of funny, but she really wanted to take them.

No gawels(girls) allowed!

I love the little boy Nolan is molding into.  He's always been more of my independent little buddy, but lately, is super attached to me(which I love!)  He has been an equal mama and daddy's boy, but really clung to Shane a lot for most of his little life.  We get solo time together each day and have a fun routine.  Lately we even sneak in a nap together.  He wants to burrow right into me, making sure at least one of his hands is on me =) and I love to watch his eyelids close while he falls into a deep sleep and then starts breathing in such a relaxed way, it's precious.  I am way off the subject now, back to what I wanted to post.  Last weekend he asked Shane to have a tea party with him in Olivia's room, but said there were "no gawels allowed."  I tried not to run in there with my camera but after a few minutes I couldn't resist.  He had his dogs and Shane sitting around the teeny table drinking pretend tea.  Shane enjoyed his time too, they probably spent an hour sitting down together pretending.  NJP is such a fun little guy, with an imagination that runs wild.  Lately he has been so into God, and wanting to know all kinds of things about Him.  *Another thing that we LOVE as his parents.  I want my children to really know Jesus and always have a heart for Him.  We were watching The Rescuers Down Under last night and there is a part at the beginning when the little boy rescues a mama eagle.  They are flying way up towards the sky up into the clouds and Nolan said "Daddy, is he trying to find God?"  He also told us that he transformed our car into a "huge" airplane and flew it up into the sky to meet Jesus for lunch =)  He said they had turkey and cheese sandwiches, and that he hugged and kissed Jesus.  Honestly, I don't remember that far back in my life, but at the same time, I don't really remember having a heart for God in my younger years in life, and I wish I had.  I always say that I fail almost daily at receiving my mother of the year award ;)  but just maybe I am doing something right along the way?!
*I really just intended to post pictures of the tea party, but my thoughts took over.

 Yum, I'm just going to say this boy is delicious!

 Boy doggies that he invited to the party.

 Look at his snuffleupagus eyelashes & tasty shoulder's(I know, I have a problem =) )

 Cheers Daddy!

I love his concentration pouring cream into his tea, and when his top lip sticks out like that!

SwEeTnEsS

Just a few valentines pictures. The kids enjoyed decorating their heart shaped sugar cookies. I let them go for it, and there were sprinkles scattered from my kitchen, into every other room in my house =) 

Our very own little RoCkStAr!

We always have Beyonce, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Iyaz, and any other popular hip hop playing in our house, especially when Olivia is home. Funny how a 6 year old knows what kind of music she likes. These videos just crack me up. You have to know that we have a million of them floating around our computer because Olivia is CONSTANTLY performing/dancing/singing. If you're ever around our house, you've probably seen the "shows" live, since they're daily around here =). I was the exact same way at her age, and so were my brothers so it's funny to see that she's that way too. These are for you Auntie D, & Auntie L. We laugh because Liv has made up her own chorus to Replay by Iyaz . Liv's version is "chinese like a melody in my head." I love this girl!!!

Her microphone stand made out of tinkertoys.

Cherry, Almond, & Cinnamon deliciousness!

I am HOOKED on the food network channel.  Mainly because I am bored out of my skull with the same ole' same ole' recipes.  So I was trying to come up with a treat box for my brother Noel over the holidays.  He is a hard one to cook/bake for, because he is an amazing chef, so I always think everything he makes is the BEST(because it really is!)  Anyhow, I was watching one of my favorite chefs Ina Garten(Barefoot Contessa,) and she was putting together a lovely holiday basket for her friends.  Well, I absolutely love homemade granola and have been making it for us for years and years.  She was making one that I'd never tried, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.  It was amazing, so delicious.  I sent a huge tin off to Noel, and made some for my family for Christmas.  Needless to say, it was a hit!  Since Christmas I have probably made 5 batches.  The kids keep calling it Christmas granola =)  Which it will probably be, I think it would be a fun treat to make my family each year. The kids, Shane, & I gobble it up weekly.  It's so good by itself for a snack, on yogurt, or vanilla ice cream, or even mixed with plain cereal like cheerios.  I've had a few people ask me for the recipe so I thought this would be an easy way to share it.  Hope you love it as much as we do.  Here's to healthy snacking!  By the way, you can mix things up once you have a good base for granola.  I have added dried mountain blueberries, or cranberries too.

Cherry, Almond, & Cinnamon Granola~
Ingredients
4 C old fashioned rolled oats
2 C sweetened, shredded coconut
2 C sliced almonds
1 1/2 C dried cherries, chopped
1/2 C vegetable oil
1/2 C honey
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
 
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Toss oats, coconut, almonds, and cherries together in large bowl.  Pour vegetable oil and honey over oat mixture.  Add the cinnamon and stir until all of the oats and nuts are coated with the liquids.  Pour onto a sheet pan.  Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula, until the mixture turns to a nice, even golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
 
Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.  Store the cooled granola in airtight container.
*Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa