To the Mom of the little boy who fell into the Gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo

So its been a while since I have blogged.. mainly because my littlest man and life has gotten busy. But I wanted to write on this even if no one reads it. As most people have probably heard by now a little boy fell into the Gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo this weekend and to save him the zoo dangerous animal rescue team had to shoot the Gorilla, Harambe. The strange thing to me is that instead of people worrying and praying for that little boy, most are horrified at the death of the Gorilla. Yes, I feel this is a tragic outcome however when you have to choose between the life of a toddler and that of an animal I would assume the child's life would take precedence?? Would be be in the same amount of outrage if this had happened in the wild while a family was on a safari? And to the people out there making threats against his mother (which who knows he could have been there with Grandma, Neighbor, Dad, Uncle, Aunt or countless other responsible adults, but please assume its his mom) and those who ASSUME she was not paying attention, is negligent, was on her phone or the countless other assumptions that have been made, please look at your own life, your parents, your friends, neighbors etc. Tell me are you so perfect that there is not a single situation in your life that something could have or has gone terribly wrong. There is no time where you could look back and think "wow, that was close" or "how lucky am I that that didn't go another way". You must be amazing because I can think of countless times where my breath caught in my chest and fear struck me at my core for what could have happened if something had gone slightly different. My youngest son (Tyler, 3) has had the Heimlich administrated on him, not once but twice, by his uncle while choking on food. Both times I thought I would throw up, had no idea how to handle it because my mind was going a mile a minute. When my oldest son, Steven, was 4 and my husband and I were at the mall with him and my middle son ( who was 2 at the time) and we were looking at something, Steven was holding my husbands hand and Will let go to reach something and he was gone. We were freaking out and found him a few moments later in the Brookstone store, but that could have easily gone very wrong. So now when I see the reports of this family and this little boy and all I can think of is how terrified this mother and this little boy's family must have been and how frightening it must be to think of what could have been. It is saddening to me how in this family's time of need that instead of praying for them and just lifting them up in our thoughts we rip them down and tear them to shreds. If you are so perfect that you feel you should be judging this person's actions and talking about a young child in such ways as "they should have let him die"... "he was better off in there than with his negligent mother" ... "they should have shot his mother instead" then so be it, but if you have ever texted while driving or even dialed your phone while driving, or been on the phone while in charge of a child, if you have ever let your eyes of any of your children for any reason, or taken your eyes of the road, accidentally ran a red light or stop sign, left the oven on, forgot to lock the door, forgot to put a cleaning product away, went to the bathroom with young children in the home and no one to watch them for those two minutes, went to the store with one or more children and stepped more than arms length away to grab a product, then you are far better than I am and judge away, but for all of the normal, regular, everyday flawed people of the world, take a breath, step back and imagine you are right there with this family, this mom, and this little, sweet, precious gift from God and just send them some good thoughts and prayers that they make it through this. And to his Mommy, where ever you are, know that everyone has had those moments and they do not define you as a person, I do not know you, and cannot judge your parenting but as long as you are present and doing the best you can that is all any one could ever ask. So be there with you little boy, hold his hand and kiss him and tell him how much you love him. And know that no matter what anyone says, there are plenty of other imperfect people out there praying for you and with you and we understand how hard this is. And no matter how tight your chest feels and how hard it is to get the what could have been's out of your mind... Just Breathe.

And if you don't know the story... you can read it here. 

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/29/us/cincinnati-zoo-gorilla-shot/

Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole - Recipe and Review

So I found a yummy sounding recipe on Pinterest the other day and decided to give it a whirl...

I found it here at Tammie Lee Tips and figured what the heck, I am always looking for new recipes, especially when they use the crock pot :)...

So here are the details:

Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef, browned
1 can RoTel, I used Mild
1 16oz package of frozen Tater Tots
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 small onion (chopped)
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions
1. Brown beef and add in chopped onion and Rotel
2. Pour beef and onion mixture on the bottom of a greased Crock Pot
3. Mix in Cream of Chicken Soup
4. Top mixture with tater tots across the top
5. Cook low for 2-3 hours.
6. 30 minutes before you are going to serve the Tater Tot Casserole top with shredded cheese.

Its amazing! It really is, it even received Zachary's 2 thumbs up (which is huge since he is pretty much the pickiest child on the planet!

My picture looked awful.. so I borrowed hers :)

Tyler's Dr.Seuss Birthday!

Oh Joy, What Fun! My Baby Boy turned One!!

What a year! Tyler is amazing. He is crawling faster than lightening. He is the happiest baby, always smiling and only cries when he is tired or hungry. He says Mama, Dada, TT *Steven, Brabra, *Zack, Nan, Gee, Baba, Nigh Nigh, and Cheese :). He loves to point at everything and his absolute favorite thing is peek a boo (which is the only way to get kisses from him). He also enjoys his daily crunches (yes actual sit ups)  His best friend is Bob (our Roomba). For his amazing first birthday we went all Seussy up in here!

The Menu:

Who-Tizers
Green Eggs and Ham
Wocket in my Pizza Pockets
One Fish, Two Fish, Have a few Fish
Sam I am Salsa
A. B.uffalo C.hicken Dip

Who-Feast
Go Corndogs Go
Roast Beast Sandwiches
Dr. Seuss Salamaroni Sandwiches (italian sandwiches)
Northbound Zax Max and Cheese
Sally Sallews Seven Layer Salad

Who-Sweets
Truffula Cup Cakes *** See photo and how to below.
Happy Birthday to You Cake
Yertle Turtle Ice Cream

Who Drinks
Thing one and Thing twos Yummy Drink Goo (7-up and Sherbert Punch)
Mr Humperdinks Fizzy Bubble Drinks (soda)


He had the most amazing day with all of our family here to celebrate him! I cannot believe he is one already it makes me so proud and so sad all at the same time...

How to Make Truffula Cup Cakes 

You Will Need:

Your favorite Cup Cake Mix

Frosting Bag with Star Tip

Frosting (I used store bought this time green, and whipped it to make it soft)

Lollipop Sticks (Party city)

Cotton Candy Machine (sorry I know what a pain :)) 

Make the Cupcakes according to directions, then freeze over night to make easy to decorate

Frost with tip in a circular motion to create "grassy hill"

Make small cotton candy fluffs on the lollipop sticks and insert into cupcakes

** they will not hold up well in humidity because its cotton candy. I recommend to serve with in 3 hrs if in a dry environment. 

Crab Rangoon Dip... NEED IT! WANT IT! Love it!!

Its fall/football season/holiday season... what is better than some great hot dips!!!


Crab Rangoon Dip

Ingredients:

-2 cups crab meat
... -16 oz. cream cheese (2 blocks)
-1/2 cup sour cream
-4 green onions, chopped
-1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
-2 Tbsp powdered sugar
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp lemon juice

First, soften the cream cheese in the microwave for about a minute.
Chop your green onions. Add them and your two cups of crab meat .
Add the sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, powdered sugar, garlic powder and lemon juice.
Mix all the ingredients and bake for 30 mins at 350 degrees. Serve hot with chips or fried wontons or pork rinds.


Ooohy goowy and oooohhhh soooo yummy!!


Not My Picture... only because I ate it tooo fast :)

Bridal Shower Towel Cake

I made these for my Sister in Laws Bridal Shower but you could use them for house warmings, wedding gifts, bridal showers, bachelorette's, first apartments, high school grads moving out ect.

Its pretty simple
You need:
6 Dish towels
5 Kitchen Wash cloths
Utensils
Ribbon and any other decor you want (for decoration)
Safety Pins

Take your 6 dish towels fold them long way into fourths, then attach them with safety pins end to end. Then roll them fairly tightly and pin the roll together.
Do the same to the Wash Cloths but folded into thirds.
Now for the Utensils you want to have a spoon, whisk or something that will go through the centers of both the wash cloths and the towels to attach them together. Then decorate!

You can also do this with Bathroom stuff, and of course diapers, receiving blankets ect for a new baby!!

7 Layer Cookies.... ummmm yes please!

So for my Sister in Laws bridal shower we were asked to share a recipe so I asked my husband what I should  share... he suggested either my twice baked potatoes ( you have not had twice baked until you have had these) or my dads 7 layer cookies. Well since she already has the twice baked cookie recipe, I went with the cookies and decided to share the recipe here. I promise you they are heaven on earth, I have never gone anywhere with these and not been asked for the recipe by every person who has one!!

What you need
1 stick of melted butter
2 - 2 1/2 cups Graham cracker crumbs
1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
1 bag of butter scotch chips
1 bag of  shaved (flaked) coconut
1 package of sliced almonds
1 can of condensed milk

• Preheat oven to 350
• You want to take a 13 x 9 inch baking dish (I prefer glass), spray it with non stick spray.
• Add the stick of butter and then the graham cracker crumbs. I usually add the crumbs slowly (1/2 cup at a time and spread and press in the dish) you want to cover the entire bottom of the dish and still have them be hard pressed together with the butter, that is why I don't use measurements, it will come out to about 2 to 2 1/2 cups. 
• Add the entire bag of chocolate chips level out evenly
• Add the entire bag of butter scotch chips level out
• Add the entire bag of coconut
• Add the entire bag of almonds
• Pierce two holes in the condensed milk (one on each side of the top) then drizzle out of one of the holes the milk all over the almonds
• Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes

***The picture is a generic I found online because I didn't make them today but had to share the recipe, yours will be much thicker!!! I promise you will thank me!

Our Newest Man!! Yep No Pink here... EVER :)

Ok so its been a while since I have posted mainly its because I have been busy....

Yep.. Real Busy :) That is our newest Younghans.. Tyler he was born on May 2nd... and to say it was a complicated pregnancy is an understatement! We lost our Dylan in August (when I was 20 weeks pregnant) to potters syndrome. It was a very hard and tough loss, but even before I could blink I was pregnant again. We found out October 2nd... SHOCK! I was soo excited but extremely high risk. I was under a major microscope and at both maternal fetal medical offices and normal obgyns on almost a weekly basis. Then in March we moved to New York... BTW NEVER MOVE DURING A HIGH RISK PREGNANCY!! Because of my risk level (did I mention I had a complete Placenta Previa as well) no doctor would take me and I ended up going to the hospital weekly for appointments. Well after 2 one week stays in the hospital and multiple times on Magnesium Sulfate (which makes you feel like you are on fire) I had an emergency c-section on May 2nd and our little man came!  My c-section was traumatic to say the least, the spinal did not work so they put me on Ketamine which made me hallucinate, (my poor husband) I could not tell reality from my dreams, thought I was dying (and pretty ok with it in my little world), though my husband was a cartoon, baby was a teddy bear, forgot I was pregnant, had no clue where I was, thought I was in a comic book and my hubby had four eyes... fun stuff! My poor husband was completely freaking out, they brought him in for the section and I was completely whacked out of my head, then our little man came and he was whisked away before my husband could even see him. Then poor Will was rushed out of the room because I was loosing blood and needed a transfusion.... Our little Tyler was one tough cookie, he had Respiratory Distress Syndrome, was on BiPap, C-Pap, had a shunt in his lung, a blood transfusion, Jaundice and 6 weeks premature and still made it home after only 2 weeks. He was healed before I was ... after two natural births I can honestly say C-Sections SUCK I ended up needing a blood patch because of the botched spinal and was in a fair amount of pain for about 5 weeks. But our littlest man is here now and perfect and was worth every crazy minute of my pregnancy!  The big boys are amazing big brothers, very helpful and love him soo much (occasionally too much).. I forgot how wonderful babies are and if it weren't for the risk of another extremely high risk pregnancy I would have 4 more :)....