Entwistle Life

 

Not much to update you on this week, things are just humming along nicely for our family. We submitted our applications for mine and Emma's passports on Monday, and had to expedite them to make sure we get them back before our trip. Emma's passport photo was the cutest thing ever!












She is my happy little baby!

Matt has been in training for his new job for the last 2 weeks, and he has about 6 more weeks to go. His hours changed, so he can't pick up Emma from Anne's house after work, so I've rearranged my schedule at work to leave at 4 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. I also have to go in earlier, which is sooo hard. I am such a baby when it comes to waking up early. I have to leave the house by 5:30 a.m. to make it to work by 6:30 a.m., which means this crab apple girl has to wake up around 4:30 a.m. to get ready. I keep telling myself, it's only for 6 more weeks... and then after that, it will be time for Mexico! I think that will be a good reward for having to be up at such a horrendous hour. The bright side to this, is that I leave when it's still sunny out, and also that I get to spend more time with Emma in the evenings. I guess I've gotta take the good with the bad!

I just planned Emma's first birthday party today as well. I am not sure exactly how it will turn out, as this will be my first attempt at a baby birthday party, but life is an adventure and you just have to jump in and buckle your seat belt. I haven't decided on a theme, but I've got about 3 weeks until the party, so I'm sure I will figure something out (I am the definition of a procrastinator). I have decided what food I will make (go figure, I plan the food portion first). I have been wanting to make these for a while, and figured that these will go perfect at Emma's party:

Ham and Cheese Sliders

I got this from the website: The Girl Who Ate Everything I have made a few things already off her site, so I know these will be delicious! I am aiming for fast and easy finger foods for her party, something that kids can also eat, so this will be perfect. YUM. 


It is so crazy that Emma is going to be one! Where did 2011 go?! I was thinking yesterday, that this time last year, I was desperately wanting to be done with pregnancy, and I even left on maternity leave 2 weeks early in hopes that I would have Emma and not be so miserable. The time has gone by too fast. 



 


I booked an appointment for Emma to have her "1 year old" pictures taken for the 24th of February. Matt can't take off work, so it will just be the two of us. I am nervous because taking a child anywhere is always unpredictable. You  never know if they are on the verge of a meltdown... wish me luck!







Emma is so much fun at this stage in her life, she is picking up on so many things. I know she understands what we are saying and doing, she just can't reciprocate it yet. Last night, there was an unopened bag of mini-marshmallows on the edge of the couch, and Emma crawled right over to it and picked it up, trying to open it and get the deliciousness that was inside. After a few seconds, she threw the bag on the floor frustrated. Then she looked right at me, and picked up the bag and put it in my lap and waited for me to open it. I couldn't help but laugh! She is too smart for her own good. She does this with books and with toys she can't get to work-- she knows that we can do it, and will put a book in my lap for me to read to her, or she will dump a toy in my lap for me to help her with. 


Still no teeth yet! I know they're in there somewhere, because she gnaws on everything that she can fit in her mouth. Hopefully she will just wake up one morning with teeth, and we can skip the whole, "painful teething toddler" saga. 


Well, this post wouldn't be complete without some pictures of Emma! :)

Now you see Sasha...

And now you don't! Emma has figured out how to lift up the crib skirt and find Sasha in her hiding spot

 xoxo
The Twistles

My new obsession

Is all about Rolo-pretzels! About a year ago, a girl that Matt worked with brought some in, and offered that I try one. I had a bad run in with Rolos when I was little, and all I remember is puking out of our family van after eating one. So when she offered one to me, I politely said "No Thanks". Well recently, Matt made a batch for himself and some people at work, and he offered that I try one, stating how delicious they were. I again, said "No Thanks". 

The next morning, I looked in the fridge and saw all these little Rolo-pretzels just eying me. So I tried one... and then another one... and well, let's just say I made Matt make me my own batch :) I am hooked, and make a batch once a week if I can. Unfortunately they cost you your first born child to buy, BUT it's worth it when you eat one. Trust me. 

Here is the recipe:
1 bag of square shaped pretzels
1 bag of Rolos candy (I've heard the Hershey's with caramel inside work too)


Heat oven to 350 degrees, place unwrapped Rolo on pretzels and bake 3 minutes. Take out and top with another pretzel and let cool.


Easy right?! I like them cold, so I put them in the fridge for them to chill. They are also very delicious right out of the oven, because the caramel is so gooey. Love them! 


Try it out, and then tell me how addicted you are, you can't eat just one!

 

New Phones!

We are finally out of the stone age, and gave in to getting new Droid touch screen phones. We resisted as long as we could, thinking that if we gave in, we would never be able to go back to our old "flip phones". Well, we were right! Since having our new phones we have downloaded more apps than ever necessary, checked Facebook too many times to count, and had to recharge our phone batteries much too often. I used to check Facebook once or twice a day when I would get home from work, but now, I find myself checking it every couple minutes, and it drives me nuts! No one ever updates anything when I want them to, so it's such a waste of time and I should really stop, but it's a habit now. Blast!

I did however, find a really awesome app called the "All Recipes Dinner Spinner" You shake your phone, and it spins through 3 different parts: Dish (soup, bread, appetizer, main dish, etc), Ingredients (beef, cheese, chicken), and Ready In (how long it takes to make). Then it randomly chooses a tasty meal for you! OR you can choose your own sections, and find this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/alaska-salmon-bake-with-pecan-crunch-coating/detail.aspx 

I just chose: Main Dish, Salmon, ready in 30 mins and it gave me a list of recipes, including this one. I made it and it was so easy and sooooo yummy! I highly recommend getting this app, I use it all the time! 

I definitely have a love/hate relationship with my phone!

Death by Chocolate

 I've  had a couple people ask for this recipe, so here it is- courtesy of Matt's dad :) 

1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I bought 2 12 oz. packages)
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 pint heavy cream
6 extra large eggs (room temperature)

-Spray spring pan with oil
-Whip eggs in blender and set aside
-Melt butter over stove until liquid, then add chocolate slowly and reduce heat so chocolate doesn't burn (I used about a bag and a half of chips for this part)
-When chocolate and butter are combined, add to whipped eggs
-Pour mixture into spring pan and bake at 375 degrees- 6 minutes uncovered and 12 minutes covered over a shallow pan of hot water. (I put tinfoil under the spring pan so no water got in).


-While that's baking, pour cream into a pot and heat just until scalding- remove from heat and add the remaining chocolate chips (I had a little less than half a bag, and only used about half of the cream) It should be a medium to thick consistency. Add more milk or chips until you get it to that point. 


-Remove spring pan from oven when finished, slowly pour cream/chocolate mixture over cooked chocolate


-Refrigerate until cake is firm (it takes a couple hours, I let set up overnight) and enjoy!!


I've only made this once, so hopefully it works out for you! It may take a couple of tries to get it just right. I am about to make a second one soon!