When summer hits we always think things are going to slow down. School is out and kids are home more so the general idea is that summer is easy breezy. Well, in my house, summer is jam packed! We go from graduations to parties to BBQs to reunions to birthdays all summer long! Towards the end I am ready for the routine of the school year!

With the fast pace of summer, I am always looking for quick and easy dishes to toss in the car to go or to toss at my kids when they are hungry. These ham and Swiss sliders fit the ticket and are definitely a kid approved favorite!

What are ham and Swiss sliders?

Let’s start with the slider part – sliders are considered mini versions of burgers or sandwiches. These sliders are a smaller portion of a traditional ham and cheese sandwich. They are great because they are pre-portioned thanks to the Hawaiian rolls! Simply add your slider ingredients, bake and pull the apart to serve.

Ham and Swiss Slider Ingredients

Another great thing about homemade sliders is that you only need a few common ingredients to whip them up. For my ham and Swiss version you will need:

• Hawaiian slider rolls
• deli ham
• Swiss cheese
• mayonnaise
• dijon mustard
• butter
• minced onions
• poppy seeds

Hawaiian slider rolls – These can normally be found in the deli or bread section at the grocery store. Kings Hawaiian is a popular brand, but there are others you can choose from.

Deli ham – Grab a half pound of your favorite deli ham. Black forest, honey ham, ham off the bone – they all work! You can even uses leftover ham slices from Easter or Christmas meals!

Swiss cheese – You will need 12 slices of your favorite Swiss cheese for these sliders.

Condiments – There are a few common condiments that you will need to make these sliders. You will need mayo, dijon mustard and butter.

Spices – Make sure to grab some minced onion and poppy seeds for your sliders.

How to make Ham and Swiss Sliders

Once you have gathered your ingredients, you are also going to want to grab –

• 8×10 baking dish
• mixing bowls and spoons
• pastry brush
• bread knife
• tin foil

These sliders can be broken down into the following steps – prepare, assemble, glaze and bake.

Step 1: Prepare. Using the bread knife, slice the Hawaiian slider rolls in the center – cutting them in half. Place the bottom half of the buns into the baking dish.

Step 2: Assemble. Spread the mayo on the top and bottom of the sliced buns. Start with Swiss cheese and cover the entire bottom of the buns. Add the ham on top of the cheese and finish with another layer of Swiss cheese.

Step 3: Glaze. Using a small mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, mustard, minced onion and poppy seeds. Place the top part of the buns over the layered meat and cheese and brush the glaze over the tops.

Step 4: Bake. After glazing, place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 15 minutes covered in tin foil. Remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the tops get a little crispy.

Step 5: Serve. Remove from the oven, allow to cool and then bread apart the rolls and serve with your favorite sides!

Side Dish Recommendations

These sliders are a good started or addition to your meal. I do suggest adding a couple of sides to go along with them. Some of our favorites are:

• Pineapple fluff
• Classic pasta salad
• Best ever potato salad
• Chips and dip
• Homemade French fries

Ham and Swiss Slider FAQs and Tips

I would consider these Hawaiian roll sliders a great beginner recipe. They would even be great to make with your kids! While these are simple to make, here are some frequently asked questions and tips to make them even easier!

Can I use a different cheese? Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite cheese in place of the Swiss. Mozzarella, American or even Colby would make great substitutions in place of the Swiss in these sliders.

Tip: Pre-heat the oven before you start to assemble the sliders so it’s ready to go.

Do I need to grease the baking dish? Nope! The butter from the glaze helps with not sticking while baking. If you’d like, you can still add some butter or cooking spray to the bottom but its not necessary.

Tip: Pre-cut the rolls before adding the meat and cheese to easily pull them apart when they are done baking.

Leftovers and Storage

How do I store leftover ham and Swiss sliders? You can place them in an airtight container and put them in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days. To enjoy after being in the fridge – place one slider in the microwave for 30 seconds. You can also re-heat them in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes.

Can I freeze these sliders? Yes! You can freeze these sliders. Make them according to the directions and then place them in a Ziplock bag. Remove all the air and place them in the freezer. They will stay fresh for 3 months in the freezer. To re-heat, allow them to thaw and then heat in the microwave or oven.

Ham and Swiss Sliders

Yield: 12 sliders

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Super simple and delicious sliders for any occasion!

Print

Ingredients

• 12 Hawaiian slider buns
• 1/2 pound deli ham
• 12 slices of Swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 4 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tbsp minced onion
• 1 tbsp poppy seeds

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice the Hawaiian buns in the middle, cutting the entire loaf in half.
3. Place the bottom half in an 8x10 baking dish.
4. Spread mayo on the top and bottom of the rolls.
5. Add a layer of Swiss cheese to the bottom layer of rolls.
6. Add the layer of ham.
7. Finish with one more layer of Swiss cheese. Add the top of the rolls back on.
8. Mix together the melted butter, minced onion and poppy seeds.
9. Spread over the tops of the buns.
10. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
11. Remove the foil and continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes.
12. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 527mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 15g

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I have fond memories of my mom and grandma making this exact casserole when I was younger. I remember that I loved chicken broccoli rice casserole night and I thought that there was never enough of my plate. I would have probably tried to eat the whole casserole dish if they let me!

Now I get to make it for my family and it’s definitely a favorite quick and easy dinner.

What is a Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole?

A casserole is a cohesive, one dish meal that is baked. Typically, a casserole is baked with three main components: meat, vegetables, and a starchy binder.

This chicken. broccoli rice casserole combines your protein, vegetables, dairy, and a starchy vegetable all in one dish.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Ingredients

• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 4 cups broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 1/2 cups chicken
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Nature’s Seasoning
• 2 cups cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Can I Use Instant Rice?

I personally like to use boil in a bag rice. It’s an instant rice that you can boil right in the bag. It’s mess free, quick and super easy. But, yes you can use instant rice or any rice you would like in this recipe.

Can I Use Cauliflower Instead of Broccoli?

If you have some picky eaters that consider those florets of broccoli trees, switch out the broccoli for another veggie everyone will enjoy. You could use cauliflower, carrots, or some other veggie that you like to eat with cheese.

Chicken – You can use boneless chicken thighs or breasts, whatever you prefer or have on hand. You can even use pre-cooked or leftover chicken here as well.

Cream of chicken soup – You need 2 cups of cream of chicken soup. You can find it in the soup section of most grocery stores. You can also try your hand at homemade cream of chicken soup as well!

Breadcrumbs – You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned ones for this recipe. I like to use the Italian ones to give it a little extra flavor. You can also use crushed up saltines or any other cracker.

How to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This recipe is super easy to make, and you will have dinner on the table in about 30-minutes. Here’s what you do:

Step 1 Prep

Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish and set aside. Preheat the oven 350 degrees F. Dice your chicken into cubes and season.

Step 2 Cook the Rice

Cook the rice according to package directions.

Step 3 Layer your Casserole

Layer the casserole ingredients in the casserole dish: rice, followed by the cream of chicken soup and chicken, then the broccoli. Stir to combine.

Step 4 Top with Goodies

Top with the shredded cheese and breadcrumbs.

Step 5 Bake It

Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and cream of chicken soup appears to be thickened.

How to make in the Instant Pot

I love being able to use my Instant Pot to get dinner on the table fast. If you are looking to use yours for this recipe, check out how to make this cheesy chicken broccoli rice in your Instant Pot.

1. Season the chicken and place on a trivet.
2. Add water and cook for 9 minutes.
3. Cook the onion and garlic in the inner pot.
4. Add the broth, sauce and rice.
5. Cook for 7 minutes.
6. Manually release.
7. Add the broccoli, close the lid and allow to steam.
8. Stir everything together and enjoy.

How to make in the Crock Pot

On the slower side, you can make this dish in your crock pot as well. Follow these instructions –

1. Place your rice on the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Season your chicken with the spices.
3. Add your broccoli, chicken, cream of chicken and broth.
4. Cook on low for 2-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is fluffy.
5. Stir in the cheese and milk.
6. Put the lid on to allow it to melt.
7. Top with bread crumbs, if desired.

This crock pot cheesy chicken broccoli rice is similar but uses a few different ingredients.

Sides that Go with Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Sometimes, I just make casseroles for dinner without any sides, but sometimes I like to add a little more variety to our dinner. So, it kind of depends on how I feel and how big of eaters I have eating dinner that night. For this delicious chicken casserole, I have made the following sides:

• Honey Skillet Cornbread
• Homemade French Bread
• Oven Roasted Carrots
• Cheesy Baked Asparagus
• Creamy Pea Salad
• Avocado Wedge Salad

How to Store Your Chicken Casserole

When I make casseroles, I like to bake them in a baking dish that has its own lock-on plastic lid. It makes for easy storing. To store your casserole, place it in a dish with a lid or place tin foil or plastic wrap over it. You can store it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Can I Freeze Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole?

Yes, you can freeze your chicken broccoli rice casserole! In fact, this casserole makes for a fabulous freezer meal.

Before freezing your casserole, allow the casserole to cool before placing it in the freezer. I like to wrap my casserole dish in plastic wrap then place the lid over the top. However, you can freeze your casserole in any freezer safe container or freezer bag. It can then be kept in the freezer for up to 6-months.

Other Chicken Recipes to Try

If you are a chicken fan, we have a ton of chicken recipes we think you would love. Try some of these other recipes, below!

• Chicken Taco Rice Casserole
• Chicken Carnitas Bowl
• King Ranch Chicken Soup
• One Pan Chicken Teriyaki
• Instant Pot Italian Chicken
• Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
• Chicken Lo Mein in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

A quick and easy dinner that the whole family will love!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 4 cups broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 1/2 cups chicken
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Nature's Seasoning or salt and pepper
• 2 cups cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish and set aside.
2. Cook the rice according to package directions.
3. Preheat oven 350F.
4. Dice and season the chicken with the spices.
5. Cook the chicken in a skillet until browned. Does not need to be cooked through.
6. Layer the casserole ingredients in the casserole dish: rice, followed by the cream of chicken soup and chicken, then the broccoli.
7. Stir to combine.
8. Top with the shredded cheese and breadcrumbs.
9. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and cream of chicken soup appears to be thickened.

Notes

How to make in the Crock Pot -

1. Place your rice on the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Season your chicken with the spices.
3. Add your broccoli, chicken, cream of chicken and broth.
4. Cook on low for 2-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is fluffy.
5. Stir in the cheese and milk.
6. Put the lid on to allow it to melt.
7. Top with bread crumbs, if desired.

Instant Pot Instructions -

1. Season the chicken and place on a trivet.
2. Add water and cook for 9 minutes.
3. Cook the onion and garlic in the inner pot.
4. Add the broth, sauce and rice.
5. Cook for 7 minutes.
6. Manually release.
7. Add the broccoli, close the lid and allow to steam.
8. Stir everything together and enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 262Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 833mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 15g

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This post is sponsored by Thomas and Friends Super Station at Wal-Mart. All opinions are my own!

The fun thing about having two boys is watching them play. Their little minds are always thinking and I love being able to sit back and watch them things out. Plus, Ryder is getting older and loves to play with older brother. Not that older brother always love to have a 2 year old tagging along, but he is really good with him.

One of the things that both boys LOVE is Thomas the Train. Avery will sit and watch the shows with baby brother and they will both play with trains together for hours. It’s the best!

Do you have a Thomas the train fan in your house? Check out the BEST Thomas the Train toys of the year!

Thomas and Friends Super Station – Hands down, this is the boys favorite Thomas toy of the year! It is a large building that contains the famous Tidmouth Sheds and Brendam Docks. It also has a large Cranky that rotates and can hook trains with a hook attachment. On top of that, the track stretches out to 35 feet long and can hold over 100 different trains.

It comes with Thomas and Percy TrackMaster edition, which means they automatically chug along the track when switched on. A Harold the Helicopter is also included and so is a landing pad that makes sounds.

You can find the Thomas and Friends Super Station at your local Wal-Mart this holiday season!

Thomas the Train Tote-a-Train playbox – With all the trains laying around our house, this tote is perfect for storing them all! It holds 9 trains and also has a mini track inside the case. You can add additional track to the case and play all day!

TrackMaster James – The Super Station comes with Thomas and Percy, so why not add James into the mix? James comes with a trailer and happily chugs along the track once switched on. The TrackMasters only require one AA battery and are easy to change out.

Additional Thomas track – Although the Super station comes with over 35 feet of track, you can always purchase more if needed. The track is easy to put together and you can make dozens of different configurations.

Thomas minis – We LOVE the Thomas minis! They are small versions of the big trains and can be easily connected to each other, front or back. They also come in fun patterns that you won’t see on the larger trains. Although they are mini, they also fit on the Super station track!

Thomas ride on – We were gifted on of these ride on along Thomas trains and Ryder just loves it! He is able to drive it around the yard and store trains underneath the seat. He loves his big choo-choo.

Thomas bath squirters – The Thomas fun doesn’t have to stop just because it’s time to take a bath! This 3 pack of bath squirters are fun to play with in the tub or at the beach or pool.

Thomas pop-up tent – We have had this tent since Avery was little, so over 5 years now. It’s fun to see Ryder pull all of his trains inside and play Thomas in his Thomas tent. He also likes to put blankets and pillows in there and watch Thomas DVD’s from one of the windows.

Thomas mini lantern – Maybe I should get Ryder this mini lantern for Christmas so he can play with this trains, in his tent in the dark!

What Thomas the Train toys are your little ones loving this year?

Want other great gift ideas? Check out:

The ULTIMATE Shopkins gift guide

The BEST KitchenAid attachments

25+ Edible Christmas gift ideas

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This post contains affiliate links.

Hey friend!  Have you heard of Shopkins?  They are small little replicas of things you would find in a grocery store.  Mini versions of cakes and fruits and cleaning supplies.  Ryley is obsessed with them and has amassed quite the collection.  We started with season 1 and now they are currently selling season 6!  Yall.  That’s a lot of mini shopping figurines. 

I even built her a display shelf for her Shopkins!  And I have to admit, they are pretty fun to collect.  I love getting in on her excitement over opening a new blind bag.  Blind bags come in the packages and have random Shopkins in them.  We are always on the hunt for ultra rares.  If you have a Shopkins obsessed kiddo be sure to check out these fun Shopkins gifts!

• Shopkins headphones – My kiddos both have Nabis so these headphones would be perfect for them!  Ryley gets a cool set of Shopkins headphones and momma gets some quiet! 
• Shopkins ice cream truck – A cute little addition to any Shopkins collection!  The ice cream truck fits over a dozen Shopkins and can roll right up to the Small Mart. 
• Shopkins collectors case – Ryley has one of these and uses it as tote to carry all her Shopkins!  This case also comes with 8 exclusive Shopkins.  Score!
• Shopkins seek and find book – We have this book and love it!  Or the kids do.  It’s great for long trips, church or even as an easy reader.  Comes with stickers too! 
• Shopkins band-aids – My kids consider band-aids stickers so we go through quite a few boxes here.  You can also find the band-aids in most grocery stores so you don’t have to pay shipping.
• Shopkins back pack – Ryley has one that she uses for school and it’s always a great conversation starter with the other kids.  “You like Shopkins?  Me too!  Who’s your favorite?” 
• Shopkins shoppie dolls – Along with the mini grocery figurines there are also mini dolls as well called “shoppies”.  There are the perfect size for all the Shopkins and their accessories.
• Shopkins lunch box – Of course your kiddo needs a matching Shopkins lunchbox to go with the backpack and other goodies.  This one has two compartments and is insulated.  Perfect for school lunches!
• Shopkins wall calendar – A 16 month calendar would be a great gift for any Shopkins fan.  Who wouldn’t want to look at a new Shopkin every month? 
• Shopkins tooth brushes – These sonic powdered tooth brushes are super fun!  Ryley has one and when you turn it on it sings the Shopkins theme song.  Makes brushing your teeth way more fun!

• Shopkins party supplies – Why not have a Shopkins themed birthday party??  This pack of party supplies makes it easy to host the perfect Shopkins bash. 
• Shopkins plush – There are a variety of stuffed animal Shopkins to choose from.  We picked a cheeky chocolate because it’s Ryley’s favorite! 
• Shopkisn umbrella – Rainy day ahead?  Don’t let it get you down!  Grab your super cute Shopkins umbrella and make the best of the rainy day in style. 
• Shopkins pop ‘n race scramble – Similar to the game Trouble but with Shopkins!  A great game for younger Shopkins fans. 

I’m actually kind of embarrassed at how many of these gifts we already have at the Grant house!  But like I said, they are fun to collect and the way Ryley lights up is so worth it.  Now tell me – what does your little Shopkins fan have?  

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I think I should start Ryder’s birth story with a disclaimer.  When anyone says you are pregnant for 9 months, they are lying to you.  You are actually pregnant for 10 months.  40 weeks.  That’s 10 months.  That’s a long time.  And it’s even longer when the baby is late.  Which was the case with Ryder.  

I went into my 40 week appointment hopeful.  I had been dilated to 3 cm since my last two doctors visits and I was hoping she would tell me I was 8 cm and ready to deliver.  One can dream, right?  That was clearly not the case and we decided to just wait it out and let little man come on his own time.  I made sure to stay very active that week and did a lot of walking.  I even tried some simple squats because my friends mentioned that those might help.  

And they didn’t.  I went into my 41 week appointment tired.  I was exhausted.  I was ready.  I wanted to meet our guy!  (Although at this point we still didn’t have a name picked out!)  My appointment was on a Friday and my doctor said she wanted to induce me Sunday morning because she was on call and would be able to deliver the baby.  Yesss!  We had an official due date!  I called Ryon and let him know and then made plans for the older kids to stay with my brother while we were in the hospital.  

Saturday night we packed out bags and headed to my friends house for dinner first.  They were having a back to school night dinner and we went over since they said I didn’t need to be at the hospital til 11.  It was fun to chat with everyone.  They all asked “when are you having that baby?” and I joyful said “TOMORROW!”  

After dinner we dropped the kids off at my parents house and headed up to the hospital.  I wasn’t being induced until 7 AM the next morning but they wanted me there the night before to monitor me.  I checked in at the front desk and headed up to my room.  I chatted with the nurse and she started my IV line.  I didn’t think I would be able to get any sleep at all since I was so excited but I was able to get at least 4 hours.  

At 7 AM the next morning they started my pitocin and IV fluids.  I had been drinking a ton of water the past few days and kept having to get out of bed to run to the bathroom.  I stayed in bed for about an hour just chatting with Ryon until the contractions started.  I downloaded a contraction timer on my phone and was able to keep track of how far apart they were.  Things didn’t start picking up until around 9 in the morning.  I walked around the room with my IV pole and would stop and breath through a contraction.  Ryon was right by my side the whole time and I would lean into him when it was really painful.  At 10 my doctor came in and broke my water.  My contractions were steady for a solid hour but around 11 they really started to pick up.  

I was trying to avoid having an epidural because I was still pretty traumatized about what happened when I had one with Ryley.  I kept trying to breath through the contractions but they were getting really intense.  I told Ryon “I can’t do this.  I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.”  I must have repeated it every time I had a contraction.  In my head though I was telling myself “Just one more.  You can make it through one more contraction.”  After one contraction I looked down and thought I had peed because my legs were wet but it was probably my mucus plug falling out.  Or something.  I’m still not quite sure.

The nurse came in and told me she wanted me in bed at this point because she thought I was trying to push standing up.  I didn’t think I could handle the pain much longer so I asked her to check me.  I measured a 5!  I just looked at Ryon and said “I need drugs!”  The pain was so intense and my contractions were coming so close together I could not get a break to breath.  They said the anesthesiologist was doing an epidural but I would be next.  I wasn’t sure I could wait that long!  

I tried to find some comfortable position in the bed during contractions but I ended up just flopping around screaming.  I had one insane contraction and then I just beared down and HAD to push.  My nurse wasn’t even in the room so Ryon had to call her to come in and help.  She ran in and I was yelling “GET HIM!  Someone GET HIM!”  because he was crowning after my first push.  The nurse pushed my legs together and told them to call my doctor that the baby was coming.  

On my last contraction my doctor ran into the room to catch the baby.  They didn’t even have time to put my legs in stirrups or change the bed to the birthing position.  Two pushes and he was out.  The nurses took him to be weighed and checked out.  He was crying and I just wanted to hold him so bad!  They gave the baby to Ryon and he handed him to me and said “Here’s Ryder.”  And I cried and kissed him and cried some more.  

The anesthesiologist poked his head in and the nurses told him we didn’t need him now.  That’s how quick he came!  I went from a 5 to pushing in less then 30 minutes.  It was intense and fast.  After waiting 41 weeks and 2 days Ryder was just as eager to meet us as we were to meet him! 

We called my mom first to let her know that he was here.  “ALREADY?!  I was on my way up now!’  She had taken the kids overnight and was dropping them at my brothers house.  She wanted to be there for the labor and delivery but little man wasn’t waiting.

Welcome to the family Ryder Grant!  We don’t know how we lived this long without you. 

Read Ryley’s birth story and Avery’s birth story as well!

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We did our gender reveal over Easter weekend.  We went to church, hunted for eggs, went to my parents, looked for more eggs, ate lunch and THEN started our gender reveal project.  I wanted the older two kiddos to do the revealing and I would stand back and take the pictures.  

Sounds peachy, right?  

Of course, it didn’t go as planned and everyone ended up covered in paint.  But that’s ok!  It all washed out (for the most part) and we ended up with a sweet memento from the day.  Plus, we are having a….

BOY!  We are adding another Grant boy to the mix!  Avery is excited to be a big brother and Ryley is excited to hold the baby.  As long as he doesn’t need a new diaper or to be fed.  She’s been very specific on that.  Avery says he will give his new little brother toys.  Not his toys.  New baby toys.  

Here are a few details on our Easter egg gender reveal:

• I saved eggs for two weeks for the gender reveal.  I had a dozen or so stashed away.  Ryon threw them in the trash because he didn’t know what I had planned.  DOH.  
• I was able to save up 6 more eggs before Easter.  
• We used different color blue Apple Barrel acrylic paint in the eggs and added a little bit of water to them.  Then glued tan tissue paper over the tops.  
• I snagged a fairly large canvas at Michaels for around $7 the week before.  Yesss!  
• We set the canvas against the fence and told the kids to have at it.  The chunked the eggs at the canvas with all their might.  
• Everyone had some amount of blue paint on them at the end.  It came off pretty easily in the washer.  
• When the paint dried the canvas looked awesome!  We are going to hang it in the babies room for sure!  

Also, we don’t have a name picked out yet.  We had a boy and girls name before we found out the gender.  When we found it was a boy I thought of at least 3 other names that I liked!  We may have to meet this little guy before we officially have a name.  

That’s normal, right?!  My in-laws are calling him baby Tex for now.  Which is very sweet.  In less then a month we will get to meet baby Tex.  WE ARE SO EXCITED!  

Did you do a gender reveal with any of your kids?  I didn’t with my first two.  They weren’t a “thing” 5 and 6 years ago.  A lot of things have changed in that time!  

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It’s funny how different your kids can be; even from a very young age.  For some reason I just assumed that Ryley and Avery would be so similar since they are only 14 months apart in age.  But that could not be more far from the truth!  They have been completely different from day 1.  Ryley has always been the calm, observant type while Avery is the loud, bull in a China shop type.  And one of them in a picky eater.  Can you guess which one? 

Ryley!  She is hesitant to try new foods and likes to stick with what she knows.  We have tried a lot of techniques to expand her food palate and have found some that have worked great.  This past weekend we hosted a tasting party for the new Gerber lil beanies and a lot of our tried and true techniques came into play.  Here are a few tips for picky eaters.

1. Start early – Make sure as soon as your kids are ready for solids (or even mashed up foods) that you are giving them a variety to try.  Just because they hate peas the first time doesn’t mean they hate them forever.  Just keep trying and adding new foods to their expanding menus.
2. Start small – It seems obvious, but don’t make a whole meal of all new foods.  Add a few tomatoes in a favorite lunch or a small side salad.  Kids will immediately let you know what is different so start with their favorite foods and mix in a new item. 
3. Make it fun – When kids are little we will do almost anything to get them to open their little gummy mouths for their first foods.  (Think airplane and choo-choo train noises.)  But when they get older it seems to become take it or leave it.  Make it fun for them and they won’t even realize they are trying something new!  We had a “play with your food” party to introduce the lil beanies to our kids and their friends.  They were so busy making models of rocket ships and dragons they didn’t even realize they were eating something totally new.

4. Be encouraging – If you have to become a food cheerleader to get your littles to try something new, then do it!  Make the experience positive and something they want to repeat.  And I know, sometimes no amount of cheering will work.  My kids still say “I don’t like that!”.  We just encourage them to try it and say “You can’t tell me you don’t like something you haven’t tried.”  Nine times out of ten they take a tiny bite and realize it wasn’t so bad.

5. Try it/eat it yourself – It’s REALLY hard to get kids to eat something that you as a parent won’t touch.  Make sure you either eat the new food already or try it WITH your kids.  They are more likely to take an interest if they see you enjoy it as well.

6. Keep trying – Don’t give up!  It’s easy to just want to stop encouraging new foods because of a strong willed child.  I know – I’ve been there!  But keep trying.  We have had success with all these tips but you may have to think outside the box for your own kiddos.  They are all different and have their own tastes and opinions. 

By the end of our Lil beanies party everyone had tried the new snacks.  (Including all the moms!)  Everyone liked them which is good because they are a perfect snack for littles!  They are made with Non-GMO navy beans and high in fiber and protein.  We don’t have to tell the kids that though! 

What is your biggest struggle with your picky eater? 

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I feel like it was just yesterday we were eating dinner for the last time as a family of three the day before you were born.  I went in Monday night on the 25th and you were born Tuesday the 26th right before noon.  Exactly 14 months apart to the day from sissy.  You came into this world with a full head of black hair and screaming.  You have since lost the black hair but you still scream a lot.  You are 100 percent boy and love to be loud.  You also love to get your sister in trouble.  I’m not sure at this point which you like more.

You don’t care if you are dirty.  You love to put (tons and tons) of rocks in your pockets.  You are really into superheroes right now.  You can’t sit still if you had to.  You’re sister is your best friend and your biggest rival all in the same breath.  You like to scream dramatically whenever yall get into a tiff.  You like to drink juice and milk from the carton, although I’m not sure where you picked that up. 

You love everything your sister loves and want to destroy it simultaneously.  You do.not.stop.talking.  Ever at all.  The only time you are not talking is when you are sleeping and even then you can’t stay still.  You wiggle all over the bed and make sure your feet are in some one’s back at all times.  

Your papa and pa are your two favorite people.  You love to copy them.  You also like to just say their names out loud and when they answer you say “love you” or “nuffin”.  You love to snuggle up on both of their laps and watch toons.  Pa looks forward to bubby snuggles whenever we are together and you are happy to oblige.  You will sit still and munch on a snack and just hang out with the guys.

You are so very smart.  You know your colors and letters and love to sing.  You will just start singing songs throughout the day.  It’s the sweetest thing ever.  You love to paint.  But I’m not surprised because you love anything messy, like I said.  The paint gets on whatever you are painting and yourself in a matter of minutes.  I wish I could just give you a paint brush and colors and let you got to town every day.  It’s probably one of your all time favorite things to do. 

Oh Av, I wish I had the words to convey how much I love you.  I just look at you and know you will grow up to be a great man like your daddy.  (And Pa and Papa).  You have such a fun spirit and gosh you make us laugh.  You make momma and daddy so happy turkey!  You melt my heart when you tell me “love you” and even when you say “meannn momma”.  I could nibble on your cheeks all day long.  You are so beautifully and wonderfully made my sweet son.  I thank the Lord every single day for you. 

I hope you have a great fourth birthday buddy!  We sure love you!

Love,

Momma

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Yall, Ryley is beyond obsessed with Shopkins.  Shopkins are these tiny grocery store figurines that have literally taken over our house.  I’m not even kidding.  She has over 300 of them.  And all the accessories that go along with them.  The grocery store, the bakery, the fruit and veg stand.  And you can’t forget the giant shopping cart.  Because duh, the tiny figurines need a giant shopping cart to play in. 

And I’m not going to lie – I think they are fun to collect too.  She gets excited when she finds one that she doesn’t have in her collection.  And she can tell you all Shopkins in season 1 and 2.  And which ones she has, doesn’t have and which ones are duplicates.  Yup.  We needed somewhere to store all these bad boys, so my mom and I made her a Shopkins storage rack for her birthday.

And ps.. Sorry for some of the pictures.  We made this rack in the garage after the kids went to bed.  Not the best for photographing.  Carry on. 

To make your own Shopkins storage rack you will need:

• 1 – wooden shoe rack (We bought ours at Walmart for less then $8)
• 1 – piece of plywood
• 2 – Sawtooth picture frame holders + 4 small nails
• 6 small nails
• 2 regular nails for hanging
• Paint of choice
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Saw – electric or handheld

Step 1 – Take the two wood frames from the shoe rack and glue them together using the wood glue.  Let them sit over night to dry and sand the dried glue spots off with the sandpaper.  We used some clamps to hold the two pieces together overnight.  (Note – you will only need the two main pieces of the shoe rack.)

Step 2 – Trace out the now glued together wooden frames onto your piece of plywood.  If you have a cute kitten assistant, then you get bonus points.  Using a handheld or electric saw, cut out the plywood so that it fits behind the wooden frames. 

Step 3 – Sand the edges of your newly cut piece of plywood. 

Step 4 – Paint the plywood your color of choice.  We choose white for the plywood and pink for the wooden shoe rack part.  Paint your shoe rack part as well and let them dry.  We used 1/2 bottle of Apple Barrel white paint and two 2-ounce bottles of pink paint for the wooden rack portion. 

Step 5 – Attach our Sawtooth picture hooks to the back of your plywood using 4 small nails.  We had the nails on hand, so I’m not sure what size they were. 

Step 6 – Position the painted shoe rack part onto the dry plywood.  Hammer in the 6 nails (two on each edge and two in the middle) to the back of the plywood, making sure they attach to the shoe rack on the front. 

Step 7 – Measure the width of the Sawtooth hangers against the wall, and then hammer in two nails in the wall and attach. 

Step 8 – Add your collection of Shopkins to the storage rack.

Optional step 9 – Show your now 5 year old daughter her new Shopkins rack and watch her squeal with joy.  Totally optional, but totally fun. 

Our Shopkins storage rack has been so solid too!  I thought with two wild kids that it would last about a week.  But both of them have fun putting the Shopkins up there and rearranging them and it has held up.  We all love it – the kids because they have a way to display their Shopkins, and me because they are no longer all over the floor.  PLUS it entertains both kids for hours!  I’m calling this DIY Shopkins storage rack a win! 

Like this post?  Be sure to check out:

• DIY fridge mats
• Easy sugar scrub
• DIY Treasure map

This post contains affiliate links.

DIY Reusable towels

DIY fridge mats

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Oh sweet girl – you are five today!  You have waited for so long to say that you are five.  We started a countdown a week before and you would eagerly tell me how many more sleeps you had before you were FIVE!  Today you woke up, crawled into my bed and told me “Momma, I’m five now!”  I asked if you were any different and you very quickly said “Yes, my legs are longer.”

Oh Ryley you are so very smart.  You can count to almost 100, know all your letters and numbers and are so very close to reading.  We have started reading the Judy Moody series and are on book number 8 right now.  You will listen to me read and then talk about the characters all day.  “Two watches mom!  Like Amy Namey in Judy Moody!”  Yes, sweet girl.  You are right.

You absolutely love Shopkins.  You have a collection of over 200 of these tiny grocery store figurines.  They are your pride and joy.  Any time you meet someone knew you boldly ask them “Do you love Shopkins?”  You assume that everyone loves them as much as you do.  You can spend hours playing with those tiny toys and you have requested a Shopkins birthday party.  Per your request, I must make you a Cheeky Chocolate birthday cake for your party too. 

You are my best baking buddy.  I know I get impatient sometimes, but I truly love having you by my side.  You love getting the “gredients” and putting them in the our Kitchenaid.  You are also a great taste tester.  You seem to always be more interested in the batter then the end product.  You love licking the beater and occasionally share with your brother. 

One evening I may have mentioned chocolate chip cookies in passing.  You took that as we were going to make them.  Right now.  I look over on the counter and you have taken out almost everything we need to make them.  You couldn’t reach the baking powder and vanilla, but you had everything else on the counter for us. 

You proclaim that your favorite colors are pink, purple and red to anyone who will listen.  Just the other day we painted your nails pink and red because you “love” those colors.  You are still doing Tippi Toes dance and are still loving getting all dressed up for recitals.  We started you late last semester and I wasn’t sure you would be able to pick up the dances for the recital.  You did, so we purchased a costume and you preferred in your winter recital.  You did so very well and I might have had tears in my eyes the whole time.

We also went to your first professional ballet performance this year!  We went and saw the Nutcracker the week before Christmas with namaw.  You did so good for the first half of the show, but loudly asked “Is it over yet?” when the second half was under way.  Namaw bought you a shirt and you wear that thing with pride.  We hope to go to another show this spring. 

Although you love all things girly, you also love to get your hands dirty.  You ride your bike up and down the street (with training wheels for now) and love playing in the sand box.  You even helped daddy by bringing him his bait when we went fishing!  Little brother didn’t want any part of it, but you grabbed it and proudly handed it to daddy.  You were also so very interested in the fish he caught.  You kept looking at it and touching its side.  Such a brave little lady!

You may seem like a momma’s girl, but you love spending time with your “dadda”.  You want to know what he’s doing and why at all times.  If he’s not home you declare that you can’t wait for daddy to get home to see his pretty girl.  You.  You are his beautiful baby girl.  And mine!  We love you so very much Ryley Ellen.  We have cherished these 5 years watching you grow and learn.  You make mommy and daddy better people.  You make everyone who knows you smile.  You are sweet to your brother when he doesn’t deserve it.  You are our Ryley Bear and we love you more then words!  Happy 5th birthday sweet girl!

Love,

your momma

Want to read more about Ryley?  Check out:

• Happy 4th birthday
• That time Ryley peed in Target
• Ryley’s birth story

And be sure to sign up for email updates!

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