Warm Recipe for Cold Days

We are suffering from some serious cabin fever at our house! It's so cold and messy outside and we've been inside since we got home from church on Sunday. It really has been a lot of fun, especially having Nathan home with us, but I'm really hoping for some sunshine tomorrow to warm things up. I've got things to do and my toddler has energy to burn. Everytime I look out the window there is either more rain/sleet or little snow flurries. Come back sun!!



We took Hayes outside yesterday morning to play, but quickly realized it was not all snow, but mainly ice. Slippery ice! She still had fun kicking and chopping at it with her boots, but it was so cold that we didn't last long.

I asked Hayes to go find some winter clothes (hahah!)so we could go outside and this is what she looked like-diaper and squeaky red shoes-All ready for the snow!!








We've done rounds and rounds and more rounds of coloring, playdough, puzzles, tunnel/tent time, reading, snacks galore (like every 30 minutes), and constantly climbing on beds, chairs, sofa, anything. This is Hayes' new favorite activity unfortunately. Today has been a little more productive. I decided to go ahead and start washing some little blue clothes for our new baby coming soon. I'm slowly getting used to all the blue stuff and it's really sweet to see it in his closet-all the little laundry I normally do is all PINK! I'm hoping to get his nursery put together soon, but Hayes is still occupying the crib in there. I thought briefly that I would move her to her big girl bed once we moved in, but quickly tossed that craziness out the window-she is NOT ready for that and neither am I with a newborn on the way!



New favorite way to color-sitting in a chair and leaning all the way down to color on the floor-this cannot be comfortable at all but she does it all the time now.


Playing

Playing and playing


Now for the recipe-I've been craving SOUP for a while now, all kinds, just about every day. Panera has my favorite right now-Chicken and Wild Rice-and it is sooooo good.
My sister gave me her recipe last week for her soup that is similar and we absolutely loved it. It's a mix between chicken and rice and broccoli and cheese soup. And since she is not planning on sharing it I will share it for her! Really take notes, you will want to make this!!

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup-by Alyssa

2 (12.5 oz) cans of chicken (don't be scared of canned chicken, I used to be!)
1 small onion
1 cup shredded carrots
2 tbsp olive oil
6.2 oz. pkg wild rice (you can use Uncle Ben's or Zatarain's)
10 oz. pkg broccoli, cooked
8 oz. velveeta, cubed
cream of chicken soup
5 cups water

1. Saute carrots and onion in olive oil in large stock pot
2. Cook rice and broccoli according to pkg. directions
3. Add drained chicken, rice, broccoli, and water to pot and boil for about 5 minutes.
4. Then add soup and cheese-let melt-not boil-or wait until you're almost ready to eat to add the soup and cheese. It's really, really good.

Stay warm!