Mini Apple Pies

theres basically nothing better than warm apple pie on a chilly fall weekend!!!  this is probably one of the cutest and easiest (read: SO easy that my 16yr old baby brother could do it - just think off all the girls he'd get if he could cook something other than grilled cheese and over-easy eggs!) recipes I've done yet! mmm.

You will need

• 1 box pie crusts (each box has 2 crusts)
• 3 – 4 granny smith apples, medium
• 1/8 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice blend
• the recipe calls for "apple pie spice blend, and I think thats cheating, I used 1/4tsp cinnamon, some fresh nutmeg, and a smidgen of salt, but you do what you want
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• ice cream (optional required...whats apple pie without ice cream!?)

Directions

1. Peel, core and thinly slice apple wedges
2. Toss apples with sugar and spices in a small bowl

3. Cut pie crusts with a large circle cookie cutter or glass (12 circles total). Use something larger than the muffin up size, duh.  I did this wrong at first and had to go pick up more pie crusts

4. Press pie crust dough into 6 of the muffin pan cups.

5. Fill each crust with equal parts of the sliced apple mixture.

6. Use the extra pie dough circles to cover each pie. Press around edges to seal.

7. Use a knife to cut slits in the top of each pie crust.

8. Brush the top of each pie crust with melted butter.

9.  Bake at 425 for 25 – 30 minutes.

10. share with your family! Or eat 3 by yourself and say that you're taste testing for safety.  whichever

Mason 2 years

 He:

- talks!!!  He tells us things he likes, things he doesn't like, and what he wants to do.  It is pretty interesting to hear his "take" on what he has done that day.  For example, Whenever he gets home from Nana and Papa's house, we ask him what he did that day....he replies "CORN!"  Now, to the untrained listener, that is not a response to what you do in a day.  However, what he means is "Papa has a deer feeder and we put corn in it and watch the deer eat the corn in the morning".  He's pretty eloquent with words.

- cuddles.  He has always cuddled, either by force or otherwise, but now, while I am cooking dinner, he will come up, hug my leg and say "love you".  It's one of the most amazing feelings in the world :)  When he isnt feeling well, or when he is sleepy, he asks Ryan and I if he can sit/lay/sleep "Wiffyou".  Too cute.

- eats the same thing every day for a week and then refuses to eat it again for at least a month.  Example:  He loved peanut butter and jelly "shams", and I asked him what he wanted for lunch, to which he replied "Sham, Please!"  I made a sandwich, cut it into quarters, handed it to him....and he walked over and PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN.  I couldn't make this up if I tried.  I'm fairly certain hes like "how dare you serve me this filth, it belongs in the trash".  MomFail.

 - Is an artist.  One morning, Ryan let me sleep in, which was FANTASTIC.  At 9:45 Ryan asks me to come into Mason's room.  I walk in, stumbling and bleary-eyed (as I'm sure is a normal response to a good nights sleep..? I wouldn't know) to see Mason, Ryan, and an EMPTY 5-lb bag of flour dumped on the carpet.  Mason has flour in his hair/cheeks/arms/legs/toes/clothes.  It appears at that point (by the flour foot-prints) that he tried to walk down the hall to find something to clean the mess up, but the only cleaning apparatus he could find was a pair of pants.  So he attempted to use those.  It didn't work.  When questioned as to why he did it, he said (with a look on his face that I assume is just sheer pride) "Art!!!".  Did I yell?  Nope.  Did I punish him?  Nope.  And here's why:  I left the bag of flour out, unsealed.  I also made "Moon Sand" for Mason to play with/make art with the week prior.  So I don't really have anyone to blame but myself.  He was so proud of his art that I couldn't do anything but smile. 

Mason has grown and changed so much in the past 2 years it just boggles my mind.  He is so sweet, and then so demonic, and then so just downright weird...It's just affirmation that he is our spawn, and was definitely not switched at birth.  Even as he licks our faces and makes up gibberish insults at the dogs, I couldn't imagine loving anyone more :) Ha!

-Mason's Momma

Going to the Chapel...

So, Ryan and I got married on August 10, 2013....

The entire bridal party got ready at the Hilton at Plaza Frontenac.   These are just a few of the pictures, there are so many its not even funny.  Savanna McNabb of Harper & Brothers Images seriously captured our love with her work. 

My gown is made by Paloma Blanca, and I got it from Simply Elegant Bridal.  They're amazing.

The Ceremony was at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, in the Gladney Rose Garden.

Mason and the Flower girls, Brooke and Heidi were AMAZING!!!!

The reception was also at Missouri Botanical Gardens in the Spink Pavilion...I'll have to upload more pictures later.

An update - September 2012

I fail at blogging, sometimes.  For example, I could have blogged on Mason's Birthday about his birthday, but instead, I ate cake and watched Keeping up with the Kardashians.  So...since I have failed...I am just going to cut and paste some emails that I sent to Mason (details about that here)

To:  OurBabyMason@gmail.com

From: Mason's Momma

Date:  June 10, 2013

Time:  5:42am

Re:    Love you

I am so sorry I haven't written to you in a while, my sweet little man.  We have just been so busy watching you grow!!! you can walk now, and you have your bottom two teeth, and now your top two just broke through!! your first birthday was an amazing day, Mason.  So SO many people came to your party! You got so many fun presents, and Great Grandma Rodgers contributed to your college fund.  yay!!  Also, the day before your birthday, you FINALLY decided to sleep through the night.  that made mommy and daddy very surprised, but very happy!  You are my absolute most favorite thing :) I love you!

-Mommy

To:  OurBabyMason@gmail.com

From: Mason's Momma

Date:  July 31, 2013

Time:  7:13pm

Re:    Mason "the man" Rodgers

Hi baby mason.  You're still (thankfully) asleep in your bed, and you've been sleeping all night lately!  You just got 4 more teeth, so you've been pretty fussy, but also hilarious.

For example: when you want your binky, you ask nicely and say "bink bink?" "Pleeeeee?" And when we say no, you scream and throw our phones over the baby gate, which is cute because when we laugh at you, you get this little demonic smirk on your face.

You've been watching "your shows" in your room before bed.  It's the only thing that seems to get you ready for bed! So you'll watch an episode or two of "bubble guppies" or "blues clues" and then we go then the iPad off and you just lay down and go to sleep! Such a good boy.

You have been really picky lately though, you don't want Dino nuggets or chicken nuggets or hot dogs or chicken or turkey burgers....you basically live off of milk, cheese, fruit snacks, and peanut butter covered graham crackers.  But you're growing, so I guess you can eat whatever you want :)

I love you so much, sweet little "poopantsio".  That's what daddy and I call you.

Also, whenever you poop your pants, or whenever daddy farts, you point to your bottom and say "poop?" So smart.

-Mommy

9 months

He:

- Crawls/cruises EVERYWHERE!!! Look out world, Mason is here to destroy your living room.

- eats little bits of pretty much everything Ryan and I eat, we love watching his face as he tries new things

- loves other babies!  Anytime he sees someone his size he gets the sweetest smile and reaches out to touch them. Adorbable

. 

- still refuses to sleep through the night, of course.  Help!!!!!!!!

- did wonderfully at his 9 month doctor appointment...Dr. Madden thinks that his fine motor skills are "exceptionally developed for such a young age" .... THAT'S RIGHT!

I:

- love springtime.  There's nothing better!!

-take walks with Ryan and Mason after work on the nicer nights, Mase loves to see all the bright spring colors and the people walking around!

- finally started my garden!  I am growing oregano, chives, cilantro, and basil! Self-sustaining ftw :)

- can't wait for the beginning of float trip season.... ahhh!!!

- find myself multi-tasking between mommy tasks and house tasks...what did I DO before I had a baby?! I had so much free time, gosh

Random Misplaced Musings: 

I have only one misplaced musing for this month, by Zooey Deschanel....and I'm in love with it.


Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too mushy. Too wishy washy. Blah blah. Don’t let someone steal your tenderness. Don’t allow the coldness and fear of others to tarnish your perfectly vulnerable beating heart. Nothing is more powerful than allowing yourself to truly be affected by things. Whether it’s a song, a stranger, a mountain, a rain drop, a tea kettle, an article, a sentence, a footstep, feel it all – look around you. All of this is for you. Take it and have gratitude. Give it and feel love.

-Mason's Momma

8 Months

He:

Takes baths in the big boy tub now, and much to his own delight (and his fathers) has discovered a certain part of his body that he finds fascinating.  Haha!

Is developing more and more likes and dislikes when it comes to his daily routine.  Example: he watches little bear then team umi zoomi... If Ryan turns on a different show, Mason gets visibly irritated. Ha.

-finally sleeps in his own bed, thank goodness. He still doesn't sleep through the night, but he is comforted with just a few tummy rubs to fall back asleep 

-doesn't really like to crawl, he more or less scoots on his belly, but he cruises around the living room using the couch, ottoman, or our hands to assist him in chasing the dogs and finding his toys.  This boy will be walking so soon! Within the next month I feel :)

.  

-HAS TWO TEETH!!!! And thus, chews on everyone and everything he can. Nom Nom

-eats rice puffs as a snack while we eat our dinner. He's almost mastered picking them up and putting them in his mouth!  The dogs find this learning process absolutely fantastic, as they get all the thrown rice puffs

-wears 12 month clothes, because he's his fathers son, a big strong boy, and continues to be nothing like me...and oddly, I'm 100% okay with that. :)
 

I:

-am no longer breast feeding, not because I can't, but because teeth on a boob is EXTREMELY unpleasant. Mason was visibly angry with me for the first week of no-boob, but he has since forgiven me and life is good.

-finally feel like I'm getting back to my pre-baby self, in looks (read: no more giant boobs. UGH) as well as feeling more like a lady, and less like a milk-production bank/alien vessel for carrying children.


-feel so lucky to have a job that allows me to off work at 3:30 instead of 5:30, it really gives me SO much more time with Mason and Ryan :)


-have been seeing a LOT of people getting engaged, pregnant, etc...and yet have NO desire to even go there right now..haha! is that ridiculous?

. 


Random Misplaced Musings:


- Im not perfect, and I dont claim to be, so im not posting this as a lecture, but more as my opinion (which is what a blog is, DUH, y'all). So here goes... I'm tired of underage people drinking. honestly. Personally,I didnt have even ONE drink of alcohol until I was in college and that first year I only drank 3 times.  after that, I didnt drink until my 21st Birthday.  Probably because im a nerd who is older than all my friends, maybe because im a nerd who doesnt have a bunch of lushes for friends, I dont know.  There is a REASON that the drinking age is 21.  people under that age (and admittedly, quite a few people older than that) cant handle the responsibility that comes along with drinking.  I could get into examples, but I dont want to call anyone out.  Bottom Line:  if you find yourself acting unlike yourself when youre drinking (like an asshole) then stop drinking...Well...unless you're just an asshole to begin with, in that case, just go away.  Things can be just as fun when you're sober.  Be an adult.


-Ryan and I have done some MAJOR work on our house.  we recently got a new bed, a new couch, and lots of new things to hang on the walls!  We are going to be painting soon, and it just makes me so happy to see our "bachelor pad" turn into a home :)  Also, I bought some herbs (chives, basil, oregano, parsley) to plant in a month or two, so we can cook with fresh herbs! yay.  PS- did you know that oregano can legally (FDA guidelines) contain 1250 "insect fragments" per 10 grams... think about that the next time you sprinkle some on your pasta!

-Mason's Momma

7 Months

He:

Has his own (technically I suppose its his, mine, and Ryans) "share" site with our journey through mommyhood (and daddyhood, and babyhood!)  check it out http://memoirsofmommyhood.shutterfly.com/

-WALKS!  mostly...sorta...with the assistance of mommy or daddys fingers for balance, MasonMan WALKS!  yes, I find it odd that he has not crawled, or really rolled over for a mode of transportation.  He walks, because hes advanced.

-Is trying so many new foods!  We are still making his baby food and now there isnt a thing he wont eat!  Some of his new favorites are mangoes, pears, vegetable risotto, and chicken noodle soup (which, even after blending, suprisingly doesnt taste awful...)

-Has the cutest personality.  ie:  he will not sit by himself while we eat, he must be on our laps watching/ interrupting each meal,  he is such a morning baby...smiles for everyone each morning! bright and early!

-wears 9-12 month clothes, but only for length.  He is about 20lbs, all muscle. ha!

-Now understands what snuggling is, and wants to snuggle us as much as we love snuggling him :)

-Combines his syllables into a language that we call Mason-ish, obvi.  If you do not act like you understand what he is saying, he gets upset...When he says grraaa!  MMMbbbeeeeeeduhhhh!!!!!  we of course, talk back as if we understand  :)

-clearly  knows that he has us wrapped around his finger, and we dont mind one bit!

I:
-am still breastfeeding, but beginning last week, only part time.  I only feed him right before bed and bright and early in the morning when we wake up.  Just doing this saves us about $80 a month in formula.  WORTH IT.

-have finally gotten into a workout routine (that I created myself made up of cheerleading exercises from the olden days haha) of 100 crunches, 30 squats, some amount of leg lifts, and an absurd amount of yoga. No arm workouts, you say?  To this I refer you back to Masons section of this post wherein I carry around a 20lb baby for 6-8 hours a day.  I do this in the morning before I leave for work, and each night before bed.  Its not a lot, but I love the results :)

-Am beginning classes to get my paralegal certificate this semester.  Ryan is super excited about this, as am I. The thought of being able to better provide for my family is what pushes me forward!

-Like coffee now, super grownup style!  I have always thought it was disgusting and bitter, but the jolt it gives me in the middle of the day to finish my work is incredible!!! wooo coffee!  Is it not totally obvi that this post was written on a coffee fueled spree?!

Random Misplaced Musings:

-I am POSITIVE im not alone here, but I'm sure not many people would say this out loud like this... I am so confused/bored/annoyed at so many people talking about weddings when they arent engaged.  I, of course, am not perfect, and I'll slip up and talk about some sweet finds on pinterest...but even I have not gone to the lengths that some girls have to completely plan their wedding before the boy pops the question....Just seems so odd to me!  The thing is...I know of at least 4 girls currently doing that...it almost feels like they are trying to build up to this giant moment, and it would kill me for them to get let down...ya know!?  Be patient ladies.  The day will come, and if you stop nagging, it could be sooner than you think! :)

-I may have written about this before, but my love of cooking/baking is quickly taking over my weekends.  I even have created a master recipe list in a cute little binder.  Mom, much?  of course I am.  I cant help it.  I love finding new recipes, and even more, I love when they turn out beautifully! yay.  For almost all the recipes that I've tried and succeeded with...check out my pinterest pinboard http://pinterest.com/amandamcqueen/my-kitchen-my-heart/

I need to add more to this update, but I'm already a day or two late, so this will just have to do for now.

Also- remember that Mason has his own email - ourbabymason@gmail.com that I have been emailing since before he was born.  Drop him a line if you'd like, he will read it in approx 18 years when I tell him about it and give him the password :)

xoxo,
Masons Momma