CrockPot Lasagna

Today I made CrockPot Lasagna for supper. It was so good I just had to share. Shockingly, I don't ever remember making "classic lasagna" and it seems like a lot of work to do all the steps required. I LOVE my crockpot and use it at least once a week, so when I found this recipe I knew I had to give it a try! It is easy and quick.

Pic of it when done.
Plated :)
Bailey gives her stamp of approval!

Ingredients (adapted from RecipeZaar- made some changes)

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• Garlic Powder
  
• 1 (28 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil
  
• 15 oz. ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or asiago cheese
• 12 ounces lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in frypan.

2. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil and oregano.

3. Cook long enough to get it warm.

4. Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of a greased slow cooker. (I used my smaller one 4qts(?), but think a 5-6 quart might even work better since mine was very close to the top)
   

5. Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit) and top with cheeses.

6. Repeat with sauce, noodles and cheeses until all are used up.

7. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. (mine did well at 5 hours)
   

8. Enjoy!
   

Grandma and Grandpa visit from Florida

My parent's came up to see Blair (and Bailey and I) to welcome him back to the States. They were gracious to watch Bailey for 24 hours so Blair and I could take a quick trip to Raleigh. We stayed in an AWESOME hotel (Hyatt Place) and ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Being pregnant and all, I fully took advantage of my meal there (You know the portions are big when I at 36 weeks preggo can only eat 1/2 my meal and 1/2 my dessert!). Unfortunately, Grandpa was sick most of the weekend with a bad cold....we tried to have as much fun as we could just hanging out though. Get better BaPA!
Bailey loving her new slide
Grandma and Bales having some fun
Watch me Grandma, I'm a big girl now!
Bailey loves being pushed by her Daddy on the swing.

Practicing being a big sister

Bailey loves the swing that we are borrowing from a friend for Taylor. She likes to make it go "night night"
Putting her froggie "night night" and pushing the swing so he can go to sleep! She has really been able to play imaginatively lately, which has been a lot of fun. We are trying to practice on being gentle with the baby and the swing.

35 weeks

It is hard to believe I am 35 weeks this week. Bailey was born in about a week and a half from now! Scary, scary. This pregnancy I feel SO much better and can actually wear SHOES!! Yahoo. I am starting to have some swelling in my hands/legs, but as Blair says "The indentation doesn't stay in your leg- you aren't swollen". He of course is referring to what was 4+ Pitting Edema that I had last time. You could push your finger in my leg and it would leave an inch indentation that would take quite awhile to go back into place. I am having more and more braxton hicks contractions as the time draws closer. Taylor is still active, but I can tell she is running out of room in there :). Everything else is just the normal late pregnancy complaints- I go to the bathroom every hour, have back pain at the end of the day and just operate a little slower than normal. We are praying that she stays in for at least 3 more weeks!


My belly, which doesn't actually look that big. They say those with long torso's (which I have) really don't show as much as some. This was the way it was with Bailey as well :)

Can you believe there is a 4 1/2 pounder in there?
OK. There she is. That belly is WIDE !!

Baby Alice comes for a visit

Jonathan and Lindsay came over from Charlotte for the weekend to visit with us and to see Blair back from Iraq. It was great catching up with them and seeing Alice. She is now 7 weeks old and becoming such a big girl!

Here is Linz with Bailey checking out the camera.
Cellon Cousins

Uncle Johnny chillin
Proud Uncle Blair! We love you Alice!!! You are the cutest.


Video of Bailey kissing Alice! I think she is getting ready to have her own little sister....we will have to work on her putting her fingers in the baby's ear holes though... ;) Sorry Alice.

CVS deals

I have started going back to CVS for some of their deals. For those of you unfamiliar, check out the MoneySavingMom blog to the right of this post under "blogs I visit". I was able to get all of this for just over $4!!! That is 3 bottles shampoo, 3 conditioners, lotion, dish wash soap, toothpaste and a free kitkat bar (given out for incentive to complete online survey).

Thank you to Grandma and Grammie for sending us the coupons- I have been using them faithfully every week at the grocery store saving an average of $20. CVS helps me increase those deals!

Canines are a bear

Bailey has been very fussy the past 2 days. She has been running a low grade fever around 100degrees. She has been drooling, biting on her fingers constantly, eating less and sleeping more interrupted. I think she is getting her first canine on the bottom! Poor girl- this is the worst teething has been by far. Even her molars didn't cause this much havoc. I have been keeping tylenol or motrin on board and that seems to make her feel a little better, she just still looks so miserable most of the time! According to the chart, she is right on schedule as she has the 4 front teeth on her top and bottom, along with all 4 1st molars.

LOWER TEETH

TOOTH	DENTAL NAME	ERUPTION AGE	ROOT FULLY FORMED
A	CENTRAL INCISOR	6-8 MONTHS	18-20 MONTHS
B	LATERAL INCISOR	7-9 MONTHS	20-22 MONTHS
C	CANINE	17-22 MONTHS	30-35 MONTHS
D	FIRST MOLAR	12-17 MONTHS	27-32 MONTHS
E	SECOND MOLAR	24-36 MONTHS	38-48 MONTHS

TOOTH GROWTH IS ONLY COMPLETE AFTER THE ROOT IS FULLY FORMED

info found on: www.simplyteeth.com

Mike's Farm with Blair

Bailey and I decided to take Daddy to Mike's Farm this weekend. We just love their food and atmosphere! (Not to mention this pregnant momma was craving their ham biscuits, mac n cheese and sweet tea). We had a great time with lots of food and friendship.

The Cellon clan
Waiting with Daddy


Bailey and her boyfriend Jace swinging in a rocking chair.Daddy showing Bales the animals at the very small "zoo"


One of the main attractions

Day at the park

It has been an absolutely gorgeous day. We went for a long walk and Bailey got to play at the park when we were done. She loved having Daddy play with her!

We are a family again!

Pics courtesy of Allison- thank you!

More Pics of the Homecoming

My good friend Allison was at the homecoming with her son (and Bailey's boyfriend) Jace. These pics are courtesy of her! She also kept Bales yesterday for a few hours to give me time to get ready and finish some last minute tasks. Thank you so much! I can't believe this deployment is over. We are doing well and looking forward to the relaxing weekend ahead (he is at work right now for a few hours).

First time seeing us!
Bailey seeing Daddy again
Daddy trying to help Bales up.
Bales was not quite into the whole let's leave Mommy thing....she has since warmed up very well! Daddy shared some of his breakfast and lunch today- I think she has a new best friend :)
Getting re-acquainted.

WELCOME HOME DADDY!

Waiting for Daddy with our sign.
Yea! It is Daddy!
Blair and the Bales....she took quite awhile to warm up to him...she was more interested in the doggy that was there :)
Daddy and Bales playing for the first time.
Cute, cute.

Today is the day!

Tonight Blair will arrive home after a very long 7 month deployment to Iraq. He has been gone 14 of the past 18 months. Oh how we miss him! I look at the below picture and am just amazed how much Bailey has changed. Thank you everyone for praying for our family the past 7 months. I am so glad it is over!

Bailey is 18 months!

Today Bailey is 18 months old! It is hard to believe that my baby girl is now full-fledged into toddlerhood. Her daddy is set to come home tomorrow and I couldn't think of a better gift for her than that! He left right before she turned 11months (she started walking a few days later), so they have lots to catch up on.
We haven't had her "vitals" done in awhile, but will post those after her 18 month well child check in a week. I do know that she is starting to outgrow her 18 month clothes! It will be all 24 months for the summer and probably 2T for the fall!

What she has been up to:
Loves:
cheese
juice
Elmo
balls
running
making baby go night night (elmo is her baby)
playing with play food
climbing stairs
eating cold cereal with soy milk
shoes of all kinds
massive destruction

Dislikes:
Milk
Most meat/veggies
getting hair done
getting nose wiped
being immobile

Old Man Winter has been active!

I almost can't believe I am saying this, but it has snowed again! I was very surprised to wake up this morning and find a good bit (well for this area) of accumulation of the white stuff. This is the fourth time this winter that it has snowed....pretty crazy! While it is pretty and fun, I have A LOT of errand running to do today to ready for Blair's return in 2 DAYS!! Hopefully, by the time Bailey and I get ready the roads will look good.