Odd shaped room

So as of right now, the sale of our house is at a stand still. The house is PERFECT for a couple or family just starting out, now its a matter of finding those right buyers who are looking for a home in the city.
Until then, I am going crazy trying to think of how to give us more room. Our living room is a really ODD shape. Its long and skinny just like the rest of the house. Right now we sort of have the room broken into two rooms. One half we have the couches and tv... the other half we have the computer and pack n play. See below. Behind the couch there is a pack and play, Tori's jumper and the computer.

This is where I need help.

 

We have decided to put the computer/computer desk upstairs in the guest room. This will save us room down here and honestly we don't really use the desktop computer much so as of right now, it really is just taking up space. That will open up one corner of the room significantly. Im not sure how much this will actually help us with re arranging the room though because it doesnt change the shape of the room lol. So as of right now, our next idea is one couch in front of the window, one couch along the right side (where you currently see the dvd case) and then moving the tv to the left side (by the fireplace).

 

If you see a way you think I can rearrange to make this room more open,

please let me know! I need help!

November is busy, duh

Seriously, I know I say this all the time. But life for the Rera's is busy. Busy and fast.
Last weekend Dan and I went to Scranton for a wedding for his dear friend Ryan and his fiancé(now wife) Erin. It was a freaking blast. When Dan was in college he was in a fraternity. The friends he made there are literally brothers to him. Alan, Harry, Regan, Trevor, Joe... he is so lucky that from his fraternity he has taken more best friends then most people get in their whole life, let alone just from college. Move onto me and Dan and I am very lucky and happy to say they treat me like a bff too. I laugh SO hard when I am with them all and I love seeing them interact. It is so sweet seeing Dan let loose, watching them all do what guys do.. you know, make fun of each other relentlessly. I have gotten to see Erin and Ryan(aka Regan) as they dated, going into engagement and now into a married couple. All of the guys were at this wedding. They had a HUGE bridal party and on top of that they are friends with everyone... literally everyone. I feel like everyone says that same thing about me and Dan but it is especially true with Regan and Erin. They are hilarious and seriously get along with everyone so they had a lot of guests who were  there to support them and ready to party. They had an awesome fireworks display, good food, lots of alcohol and everyone also stayed in the same hotel (which transportation was provided for) so even after the wedding the party continued. Not for me of course lol.. Tori slept at my parents house overnight, so we had a perfectly good sitter, we knew she was completely safe and taken care of... but that did not change that this mom cannot hang like she used to lol. I was one of the first people to go to the room and go to sleep after the wedding. I apparently missed an awesome after party at the pool lol. All I know is that there was pizza and wings there. So yeah, Im upset.
This past weekend Dan had a class because he is taking life insurance/financial advising classes right now. The school districts are so messed up financially lately and him being a gym/health teacher.. he wants a back up plan in case his district makes more teaching cuts. That needs a whole other post itself so that's all Ill say for now.
Since Daddy had class, Tori and I just hung out at the house Friday night and then Madelyn came over to hang.. Saturday Tori and I went to Dream dinners with Courtney and I showed Courtney a house... and then we went to Stauffers for a cheese festival they had. Dan and I have gone to it before and we are obsessed. I LOVE cheese lol and this cheese festival thing is free and you literally walk around to different cheese stands and taste test any cheese you can think of. Tori got to enjoy it this year and we met up with Meg (fellow cheese lover) and Ray. It was actually a lot of fun LOL.. which may sound weird because hello it was just us walking around at a grocery store.. but it was awesome lol. Sunday we did family pictures with my whole family at Rocky ridge park in York. It was me, Dan, Tori, my parents, Banana, Kenny, Sami, Stink, Summer, Izzy and my Mammy. My friend Mallory (who did our engagement, wedding and newborn pictures) and her bf Joe did our pictures and I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEM. Everyone looked wonderful, they did a lot of fun poses for us and although it was windy it was a pretty day. We got pictures of my Mammy with all 3 great grand babies, each family individually, my parents with us kids,with the grand babies.. and then all 3 girls together for pictures just them. It was ADORABLE. They were sitting on this blanket and Tori was eating leaves, Sami would yell, Izzy would laugh, I cannot wait to see how they turn out. The interaction between the 3 of them is amazing!

Have a wonderful week!

 

8 months

My baby girl is 8 months old! She scoots, talks a lot, loves her daddy, will grab anything within reach and has the best laugh I have ever heard.

 

She seriously cracks up when she laughs, her entire little face scrunches up and she laughs to the point of screaming. Mommy makes her laugh the most and I love that. I love that she associates me with safety, comfort, trust and laughter. Those 4 things have been some of the most important qualities I have wanted to give Victoria as her mother.

 

The sun rises and sets on this child. My child. My perfect girl.

 

 

Sweat-A-Fit

I am on the board for an event called Sweat-A-Fit. It is an awesome workout event that raises money for different local charities. My friend Megan (also known as my Maid of honor and bff) heads the whole thing and she is awesome. She is someone who is VERY committed to living a healthy/fit lifestyle and very committed to educating others in the benefits of doing that for you and your family. Money raised has gone towards things like Daniel's Den (a park for handicapped children), IU 13 (money went towards gym equipment for Lebanon/Lancaster School districts) and this year the money raised will go towards Lancaster's Boys and girls club.

A little on the girls and boys club:
"The Mission of Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to become productive, caring, responsible adults. We provide an environment where members can achieve: Positive self identity, a healthy lifestyle, a strong character, educational success and social competency".

Deets on the event:
You can register for up to 8 hours of events including: Zumba, Yoga and/or Indoor cycle. You do NOT have to register for the whole 8 hours. You can register for however long YOU want to do. You can also break up the 8 hours worth of events you want to do. For example, you could do 2 hours of zumba, 2 cycle, 2 yoga... 6 zumba, 1 yoga, 1 cycle... 2 zumba and go home. The cost for students is $15, non students $30..you can also make a team and we encourage raising more money but that is up to you. Snacks, lunch and drinks are provided. These things are donated from various restaurants, stores, etc. The first 100 registrants get a free t shirt and goody bag. We also run a raffle where you can buy tickets and try to win different prizes and we also give door prizes. The event is held at Millersville University in their huge, beautiful new gym.

I cannot stress enough how fun the whole day is. Everyone is SO energetic, enthusiastic and has the best time. We all run around like crazy singing, dancing, and trying to keep each other all pumped up for the long day. Let me know if you have ANY questions!

 REGISTRATION IS OPEN RIGHT NOW! GO SIGN UP! I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!

WWW.SWEAT-A-FIT.COM

The new normal

Yesterday Dan said to me "I finally feel like things are normal again".

 

He is SO right. We have moved on from feeling like we are babysitting someone else's child, feeling like we have no idea what we are doing, the feeling of not knowing how we are going to make it on 3 hours of sleep, the constant questioning of how we are doing as parents.

 

Our girl is beautiful, sweet, happy and smart.

I think we are doing alright.

 

 

Victoria Luna, our everything

 

A breakfast/dessert and dinner recipe!

Homemade Banana muffins and Vanilla Icing

 

Muffins:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour                                                                     

1 teaspoon baking powder                                                                     

1 teaspoon baking soda                                                                     

1/2 teaspoon salt     

2-3 bananas

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup melted butter   

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prep muffin pan/tins. Sift together all dry items. Mix all wet items. Combine everything together. Scoop into pans, cook for 30 minutes.

NOTE: You can add chocolate chips, walnuts etc. Also, if you would like to make the muffins healthy you can sub applesauce and sweet n low. AS IS the muffins come out to 180 calories per muffin. Not bad!

Icing:

2 cups powdered or confectioners sugar

2 tablespoons melted butter

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine ingredients and beat on medium speed until smooth and fluffy. (Yes, its really THAT easy lol) Note: obviously the icing is optional. You can skip the icing and the muffins are still really moist!

Beef and Potato Casserole
( I am making this for dinner, its in the crockpot right now)

 

Ingredients:

6-8 potatoes (peel and cut into cubes)

2 carrots (chopped into slices)

1 can of peas

1 cup of cheddar cheese

1 lb of ground beef

1 10oz can of cream of chicken soup

1 onion (diced)

 

*Brown the ground beef, in crockpot: Layer ground beef, potatoes, onions, carrots, peas and cheese. There should be enough to have at least 2-3 layers. Once everything is in crockpot, Top with cream of chicken soup. Cook high 4-6 hours or low 8-10!

7 months

My daughter is 7 months old.

I repeat.. my daughter is 7 months old.

When did this happen?

 

When did my little 6lb baby girl who was so tiny and smelled like newborn and wore teeny tiny clothes that looked like they were made for a doll turn into this wild, free spirited little 7 month old?

At 7 months old, Tori....

 

*LOVES to bounce in her jumper *screams with delight *tries to turn herself away from me when I pick her up so that she can get down *rolls all over the place *reaches and grabs things intentionally *can sit up and splash in the bathtub *eats anything mushy *loves music *acts shy and bashful around people she doesn't see often *pinches *grabs Riley *sucks her thumb *weighs a little over 18lbs *is somehow even more perfect than ever

 

 

 

 

It is crazy to me that she is officially closer to 1 year old than she is to the fresh out of the oven newborn that she was. Crazy to me that I will be planning her first birthday party in a few short months. Victoria Luna, you my baby girl, are my best friend. I love you more than anything in the whole wide world and thank my lucky stars everyday to have you in my life... yes, even when you pull mommy's hair and laugh as I scream.