One more time...

First there was this...

and then this..Baby McCarthy (kid #3) is on its way! Baby is due November 26th. Doctor's appointment and ultrasound at 9 weeks all clear and everything looks good. So I though it was time to tell why I have been MIA and mysteriously "not feeling well" to put an end to the rumors and mystery. This will be the last one for us. Just keeping our fingers crossed and praying that all will go well with this pregnancy and we can greet our little one on November 18th. Yes. Can you believe that they already scheduled the C-section?! With our first baby, Colin, being breech I delivered C-section. So it's C-section for every baby now.

We are very excited! Colin wants a baby brother; Katie wants a baby sister. We'll take what we are given. Winter holidays around our house are going to be crazy busy. Our anniversary in the first part of November, Baby #3 due late November, Thanksgiving, Katie's 4th birthday on December 7th, then Christmas, and Colin's 8th birthday on January 13th. We are ready for the ride!

the BIG 40!

My husband turned 40 yesterday. He's been pouting about it all month. But his spirits were cheered up when his birthday adventure started yesterday morning. (Excuse the beard. He's growing it for a musical play our church is doing for Easter. I think it makes him look much older. Under the pile of hair is a baby face.)

It was really Colin's idea. His little 7 year old head came up with a scavenger hunt...hiding all the presents and then making up clues to find them. He helped me write about half of the scavenger poem. I couldn't believe the rhymes he came up with.

Mike got to look for one present in the morning, because I thought he could use it throughout the day...an Otterbox for his smart phone. His other phone cover literally disintegrated into pieces this last month and he had just gotten it for Christmas. If you have never heard of Otterbox, you have to get one for your smart phone. Worth every penny.

After Mike came home from work, the hunt continued. I know he had a good time searching for everything and the expressions on the kids' faces were reward enough. Of course he got Lego set (Star Wars) and a new Kurt Elling CD.

I made a chocolate cake that everyone devoured, but still have leftovers. We sang happy birthday and had cake and Mike built Legos with the kids. A quiet birthday at home, but it was super fun. Looks like he survived turning 40, after all!

so excited to build Legos he couldn't even finish his dinner.

Colin loves Legos...

...and so does Katie!

My Little Irish Beauties

These are my kids. One boy. One girl. He's a blondie. She's a red-head. He has green eyes. She has blue eyes. Their last name tells of their Irish ancestry. Her physical traits speak for themselves.

Did I mention she's a red-head? With the personality to match. Just look at that face. Could you ever imagine that her nickname is "the red-headed dragon?"

My kids are my heart. At times they make me crazy, want to rip my hair out. At times they are angels. With every hug, kiss, smile I know they are children of God sent to me to tend on this earth and everyday I am thankful for that. I marvel at their intelligence, bravery, and innocence. They are what get me through each one of these days.

Slow Cooker Spiced Chicken Stew with Carrots

It's good. Really, really good.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/slow-cooker-spiced-chicken-stew-with-carrots?backto=true&backtourl=%2Fphotogallery%2Fslow-cooker-recipes

A Little Too Much Valentines

This year it seems that I overextended myself. I feel like I have been living in my kitchen for the past week. Between cooking, baking, washing dish upon dish, I am officially on strike! Well, at least for the weekend.

It all started when I started making these beauties, all decked out for Valentines Day, for cooking class for a Relief Society Activity:

and of course some of these, too...it's Valentine's Day, so let's print off a cute tag to go along with it...and since I happen to have the pie dough and cherry pie filling on hand, why not whip up these Pie Pops for the gals to try? Thanks to Bakerella for all the great ideas and yummy "pop" recipes, oh and the pictures, too.



Then my son needed something to pass out to his class for Valentine's Day! I haven't baked enough, why not make these? M&M Cakies. I'd never heard of them before a friend shared the recipe. Gave them a try. My kids love them. And much easier than making other cookies. Then I needed something to package the cookies in for my son to pass out. Clear, cello bags on hand? Nope. Big heart stamp and ink? Check. Brown paper lunch sacks? Check. Clear sandwich bags? Check. Insert cookie into sandwich bag. Cut 3 inches off the top off the brown paper lunch sack. Stamp a big heart in your Valentine color of choice in the middle. Insert wrapped cookie into paper sack, keeping it flat. Fold the top of the sack over. Oh, remember those cute cake pop tags mentioned above, well they work as a Valentine as well. Staple said Valentine to the folded portion of the paper bag with a colored staple and, viola! You have yourself homespun Valentine packaging. And they turned out much cuter than imagined. You would think I would have taken a picture of it before I sent them off. Well, you would be wrong. I didn't. I think my brain officially shut down at about 9:38 pm last night.

But, alas, my week of cooking wasn't over. This morning, I made 2 dozen scrambled eggs. Topped 'em with cheese, cause they were for some very cute 1st graders. What kid doesn't like cheese?! Why was I up at 7am making 2 dozen scrambled eggs? I helped make a waffle breakfast for my son's classroom. 8am. Yeah, I know, I'm crazy. Getting that together was a lot of work. Oh, did I fail to mention I am one of the room mom's for his class. Yup. I am. Anyway, getting it together was a lot of work, but it went smoothly, thanks to some very helpful and willing parents and one other very awesome room mom (you rock, M.S.). The kids really enjoyed it and ate it up, and came back for seconds. At least the outlets in our classroom were working. That's another story that I won't get into.

So a mountain of dishes, a nice 2 inch burn on the top of my hand, and one jealous husband later(I told him he couldn't sample any of the food I made until I was sure that I had enough), I am tuckered out and the kitchen is officially closed for the weekend!

Do you think I will have to cook for Valentine's Day?

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!