The Hatwigs

Future superstars

2010-03-11T10:24:00.001-08:00

Wordless Wednesdays- Who built the ark?

2010-03-10T15:18:00.001-08:00

March Reading- or more appropriately titled, Books I would like to at least open in March

2010-03-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

I usually try to pick 3 books a month to "Look At." One work of fiction(whatever we are reading for book club), one parenting book, and one spiritual/personal growth book. Since The Hour I First Believed is almost 700 pages, we are spreading it over two months (you will see it on my April reading list as well). What are you "Looking At" right now?

Wordless Wednesday- Sick days

2010-03-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

Mississippi Mud Cookies

2010-03-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

I decided to let Ava pick what we would be baking. The book has big color photos of every recipe. I handed her the book and she said,"I want something chocolatey." I taught her well apparently :) She picked Mississippi Mud Cookies. They have pecans in them, so I probably wouldn't have picked them on my own. All I have to say is, "THANK YOU AVA!!!!" I really liked these and so did Jason, who really isn't a sweets fan. After we went and bought all the ingredients, my helper ditched me to watch Thumbelina. It was okay though because I had another helper attached to me. Darcy had been sick all week and only wanted to be held.

Funny how she doesn't look all that bad when she is in your arms. I actually made another batch of these for tonight's book club meeting, only I am going to take vanilla ice cream and make sandwiches out of them. Here is the recipe:

1 C semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 C butter, softened

1 C sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 C chopped pecans

1/2 C milk chocolate chips (you can use semi sweet if you want)

miniature marshmallows

-Microwave 1 C of semisweet choc. chips for one minute or until smooth stirring frequently

-Beat butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla and melted chocolate.

-Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to chocolate mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in chopped pecans and 1/2 C milk choc. chips.

-Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto parchment paper- lined baking sheets. Press 3 (I personally think 5 is better) marshmallows on to each cookie.

- Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Enjoy!!!

Promises, Promises

2010-02-27T06:40:00.001-08:00

Well, it has been a while since the last time I posted anything, and you are probably wondering, "Where are all those sweet treats you promised us?"

I have continued to do my weekly baking projects with Ava, but we have either made really basic stuff or the recipes have flopped. This brought up the dilemma of should I blog about a flop if I promised a treat? In the end I decided that every baking experience is a treat for me, because of the time spent with Ava.

I thought it would be fun to chose a book that Ava and I could work from. Since it will now be more like a recipe review, there will be no pressure for it to be a success. I chose" Southern Living's Best Loved Cookies-50 melt in your mouth Southern morsels" There are several reasons why I chose this book. The first is that when I flipped through the pages I saw a lot of pictures of cookies with chocolate. The second reason was that everything seemed so rich and gooey, like the type of food you could eat and get that warm comforting feeling inside (does that make me an emotional eater ?). Last of all, the recipes looked fairly easy. I don't want to go out and buy weird costly ingredients that I will use one time.

My goal is to make at least 20 recipes from this book. I don't think it should be too hard, as a lot of the recipes were very appealing to me:) The only thing I am concerned about is my waistline =O

Commercial Break Rocky Road

2010-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

So here is the first of my sweet treats for the year. My grandma says she has made this so many times she can now make it in ONE commercial break while watching TV. I had two assistants this time so it took me a lttle longer.

My assistants, Ava and her friend Colson :)

The ingredients:

1-12 oz. bag of chocolate chips

1 small can sweetened condensed milk

2 TBSP butter
1- 10 oz. bag marshmallows

2 C crushed walnuts

Microwave first three ingredients until barely melted.

Pour mixture over marshmallows and walnuts. Stir until they are coated.

Scoop into buttered 9x13 dish.

Refrigerate until firm.

Not only do I like the way these taste, I love how easy they are to make. I think I used up all my extra Weight Watchers points for the week because everytime I would walk by them I would eat a piece. Good thing I can just start anew tommorrow:)

If my treats get too tempting I will have to give them away after I make them. Watch out, because I just might show up at your door one day!

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-03T14:14:00.000-08:00

I thought I would start the new year off with a smile, and this picture always does it for me. I must say, if I would have known that Build a Bear clothes fit Darcy, I could have saved a lot of money on her Halloween costume.

Hopefully your year has gotten of to a great start, so far mine has....all three days of it. So down to business, I made some resolutions this year and I'm going to share them with you, in hopes that you will hold me accountable :O

1. Develop a stonger relationship with God. Obviously this will be a constant process, but I can always grow.

2. Have more fun. This was one of my resolutions two years ago. I find I get so caught up in the to dos in my day that sometimes I just need to laugh and have some fun.

3. Keep up my baking projects with Ava and share 45 new recipes with you.

4. Get organized. I am severely organizationally challenged. I think some of you would have heart attacks if you saw the insides of my closets. I get overwhelmed, and then do nothing. Baby steps with this one.

5-6. Exercise more and lose the remainder of my baby weight. I am giving myself 6 months to lose 12 pounds. I am doing Weight Watchers. I'll let you know how that works out for me ;) I really have to work on these because I got off my blood pressure meds and plan on staying off them for a very long time.

7. Be a more engaged parent. Sometimes I feel like Zombie Mom, just going through the motions of motherhood.

There they are. Even if I can't fully accomplish these. I will atleast give it my best shot. I will leave you with my favorite bible verse, and unofficial life motto:

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

For this is God's will for you

In Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!

Hello, I'm back!!!!!!

2009-12-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick post to let you know I will resume blogging in the very near future. December is a busy month in our household, and I'm sure yours as well! Sometimes there are gaps because, in a nutshell, my life isn't all that exciting (GASP)!!!! I have decided for 2010 to add a few new features to my blog. Ava and I do a baking project once a week so I will feature a Treat Of The Week. My goal is to have 45 new treats this year!!! I am trying to expand my baking repertoire. It will be fun. I am hoping to cure my nut/ baked goods phobia. I love both, just not together.
Since I am in a book club, I will also be featuring a book of the month. These are big plans, I hope I can accomplish them. Welcome 2010, Bring on the treats!!!!!!!!

YUM YUM

2009-11-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at Darcy's 4 month appointment, the pediatrician said we should start giving her rice cereal. All I can say is,"SHE LOVES IT!!!"

Pirate Treasure Hunt

2009-11-11T21:04:00.002-08:00

This week for family night I thought it would be fun to go on a treasure hunt around the house (thanks for thre idea Rachel). Since Ava can't read a map, I thought I would do a photo hunt. I went around the house and took pictures of things she would recognize: refrigerator, fireplace, dishwasher, etc. We started at the refrigerator, inside was a picture of her toy chest. We headed to the toy chest and inside was a picture of Darcy's dresser . We went to about 12 different places in the house that ultimately ended at the refrigerator where her treasure was, a big bowl of ice cream:) We also ate a hearty pirate dinner of....pizza and hot dogs! Atleast we ate them on pirate themed plates and drank out of pirate cups:)

Ava loved the Pirate hat until the elastic strap snapped her face

Darcy slept through most of it. I managed to get a picture of her smiling but this was actually taken the next morning with the flash off . Ava loved the hunt so I saved the pictures for something to do on a rainy day.

A Halloween recap

2009-11-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

I know is is very late, but I guess it is better than not posting anything. We had a fun, yet busy Halloween. Ava was Snow White and Darcy was a flower fairy. I have very few pictures because I forgot to charge the battery in my camera. I just have to say for the record, "I hate my camera". Okay, I will move on.

After taking the girls to my parents, we stopped by Sonic to enjoy 50 cent corndogs and grape slushies (my favorite). Then it was off to Trunk or Treat. Ava got loads of candy and was able to make a really cute necklace. We then stopped by one of our Pastor's house who barbeques hamburgers and hot dogs in the front yard and passes them out to Trick or Treaters. After that we went home and took Ava Trick or Treating down our street. When we finished that the girls went to sleep and our friends came over to play Canasta. It was a very fun day and I slept really well that night :)

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

2009-10-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

I'm Pretty sure that if there were such a thing as Halloween elves, they would look like Darcy in that outfit :) I have always said I wanted to start doing a family fun night , so yesterday was our first one. Since Halloween is coming up, I chose pumpkins as our theme.
During the day, Ava and I made sugar cookie dough.

Then we used our pumpkin cutters (gotta love the DollarTree)

Darcy watched (Does this picture look semi-familiar?)

When Jason got home we decorated them

And ate them (please excuse my exhausted mommy look)

We also drank pumpkin juice (okay, Orange Crush)

We also went on a pumpkin hunt that was very much like an easter egg hunt in the house.

When we were through with that we had a pumpkin tossing contest. The "Pumpkins" were actually pumpkin stickers on cotton balls that you launched with a spoon. Far less destructive than the real thing and Ava had a blast doing it!

I'm sure future family nights won't be as detailed, probably just a craft or game. If you have any suggestions feel free to let me know! Overall, I had a really great time and I think Ava and Jason did as well:)

The (not so) many faces of Darcy Jeanne

2009-10-27T15:30:00.000-07:00

Darcy is totally mesmerized by the flash on my camera! All of our pictures of her are starting to take on the same look. The few pictures I do have, that she is smiling, are on the dark side because I have to turn my flash off. Perhaps one day the novelty will wear off :)

I think she may be teething. She has become a total drool monster!

The gift that keeps on giving

2009-10-21T22:31:00.001-07:00

When I had Darcy, not only did I receive some really wonderful gifts, I also received some really cute ribbon on them. I thought to myself, "I'm sure I could use these for something", so I saved them. A couple of days ago, the weather was dreary, Ava was engrossed in a My Little Pony DVD, and Darcy was asleep. I looked at the sinks full of dirty dishes and the mounds of laundry to be folded on the couch and decided to do some crafts ;) I made the girls some hair bows out of the ribbon I saved. I don't know which was better, the 30 minutes I got to sit and create something, or the fact that I wound up with 5 bows for almost free! I did have to spend 50 cents for small ribbon for the center. However, 50 cents for 5 hair bows is extremely cheap! Here is what I created:

note: I am very aware that I take lousy photos

While I was making those bows, I also made this one from ribbon I had bought:

My motto for the day was,"When life hands you ribbons, make some bows".

I know, I know, I am a big cheese ball!

The remodel is complete

2009-10-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! Two posts in two days. I think I've set a record for myself! We actually finished a month ago, but as you know I'm a little behind on my posts! Jason did everything but the foundation and texturing of the walls. I am so proud of him and SO happy to be done. Since he only spent about 4hrs a week on it , it took almost 10 months to complete...Yikes!!!

Darcy is 3 months old!!!!

2009-10-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Darcy is 3 months old! We are finally getting back to "normal" life if there is such a thing. I gave up on trying to keep my house orderly, so now I have time to blog:) It is amazing how different Darcy and Ava are. They don't look alike, and they certainly don't act alike! I thought it would be fun to do a photo comparrison of the two. I labeled the pictures, but I'm pretty sure it's obvious. Just humor me, I haven't blogged in a while ;-)

Darcy on changing table

Ava on changing table

Darcy in the bath

Ava in the bath

Darcy in the swing

Ava in the swing

Leaving for the hospital with Darcy

Leaving for the hospital with Ava

I guess the only thing that was the same was my labors. I was induced with both of them. I went in at 5:oo am with both. Darcy was born at 12:21pm and Ava was born at 12:45 pm. I developed high blood pressure with both, except much worse with Darcy. I am still on blood pressure meds but hoping to get off them soon. I have gotten two opinions and both people said not to have any more babies because I could have a stroke next time. I was bummed, but feel so blessed to have the two God has given me! My mission now is to enjoy them as much as possible because it is amazing how quickly they grow! I am hoping to blog a little more often. Finding a chunk of time to do it is a bit of a challenge!

Bookclub Baby Shower

2009-02-11T14:21:00.000-08:00

Our book club minus Allison

The two preggos of book club (Me and Nicole)!

I think It might be a little small Nicole!

I chose the book and hosted the meeting for the month of February. Since Nicole is due this month we decided to throw her a little shower as well. The book we were discussing was "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls. I must say, this book definately held my attention the whole way through. It was one of the shorter books that we have read (that's not why I chose it :P) I don't know what was more shocking-the story itself, or the fact that it is a true story of the authors life! Lets just say the begining is the author cooking hot dogs at the age of three and catching on fire. Her parents bust her out of the hospital six weeks later, jump in the car and skip town without paying the bill. My favorite part of the book is when the parents pack up in the middle of the night to move again and put all four of their kids in the back of a Uhaul. While the Dad is driving the back door of the van flys open. Once the dad realizes what happened, he pulls over only to scold the kids as if it is their fault. This book totally made me appreciate my dull sheltered childhood. I really enjoyed this book, as I love biographies of interesting people. I give it two thumbs up! If you plan on reading it, I must warn you that her parents have a very raw vocabulary:O

We are all excited for Nicole and the upcoming arrival of Kenley Navarro! We missed Allison but are glad her husband is okay....emergency surgery sucks! Hopefully he will feel better now.

I know this is very late

2009-01-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am a little embarrassed to be posting this so late, but better late than never! Ava turned two on December 13th and had not one, but two parties that day! It wasn't as chaotic as I thought it would be, and she had a blast. Her first party was at Little Gym with all her friends and then we had a family party for her that evening. Now that my morning(all day) sickness is gone, I will try to be more frequent in my posts.....I just hope I can think of interesting things to say!

My new blog

2008-12-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

So, I have had a blog on Xanga for a while now. I don't think I should have to pay them money to keep inappropriate adds off my site...so I have moved. Welcome to my new site!